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FRENCH  SCHOOLS  IN 
WAR  TIME 


,    7  '> 


I     c 


A  souvenir  of  the  visit  to  the  schools  of  France  presented  by  the  Minister 
of  Pubhc  Instruction 


REPORT 

OF   A   VISIT   TO 

SCHOOLS   OF   FRANCE 

IN 

WAR  TIME 


BY 

JOHN  H.  FINLEY 

Commissioner  of  Education  of  the  Stale  of  New    York 
and  President  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New  York 


WITH  MESSAGES  TO  THE  UNIVERSITIES,  COLLEGES  AND 
SCHOOLS  OF  AMERICA  FROM  THOSE  OF  FRANCE 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK 

1917 


THIS  brief  report  of  a 
very  brief  visit  in 
France  in  the  early 
summer  of  1917  depicts 
the  spirit  that  pervades 
the  schools  and  univer- 
sities of  France,  rather 
than  the  methods  of  their 
teaching,  partly  for  the 
reason  that  this  seems 
more  important  to  us  en- 
tering the  war  than  the 
pedagogical  details,  and 
partly  because  the  unex- 
pected welcome  which  was 
everywhere  given  pre- 
vented one  from  seeing 
much  of  the  daily  routine 
of  the  schools.  In  one 
place,  indeed  (the  birth- 
place of  Jean  Jacques 
Rousseau),  a  holiday  was 
declared  for  the  children 
after  the  early  morning 
classes,  that  I  might  meet 
all  the  teachers  of  that 
city.  Two  rather  dim 
pictures  which  have  come 
since  this  report  was  sent 
to  the  press,  and  which  are  herewith  reproduced,  tell  of  a  recep- 
tion in  Normandy,  but  they  also  give  intimation  of  the  reception 
in  other  places,  to  one  who  was  only  an  American  visiting  the 
schools  of  France  in  the  period  between  President  Wilson's 
famous  message  of  April  2d,  which  was  everywhere  read  in  the 
schools,  and  the  coming  of  the  first  American  troops. 

The  reader  will  find  the  general  summary  of  the  report  in  the 
first  nine  pages,  but  the  teacher  will,  by  reading  a  little  farther, 
find  some  special  suggestions.     The  most  valuable  part  of  the 

D8or-Mri8-20Do 


At  the  right,  school  girls  in  a  lyce'e  ;  at  the  left, 
a  procession  of  the  faculties  of  the  University  of 
Caen 


379487 


report,  however,  is  to  be  found  in  the  messages  which  were 
carried  to  France  and  those  which  they  evoked  —  messages 
which  together  in  themselves  justified  putting  into  permanent 
form  the  report  of  this  journey,  and  which  will  make  a  unique 
document  in  our  educational  literature.  I  am  particularly 
glad  they  can  be  published  by  The  University  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  whose  representative  I  was,  for  it  is  the 
institution  of  all  in  America  most  closely  related  in  purpose 
and  organization  to  the  University  of  France,  which  embraces 
in  its  concern  and   control    the    institutions   which    I    visited. 

But  I  would  ask  the 
reader,  both  teacher  and 
layman,  to  take  the  time 
before  putting  the  book 
down,  to  glance  through 
the  epitomizing  pages  from 
99  to  103,  for  while  they 
carry  the  title  "L' Envoi,  " 
they  are  but  the  preface  of 
what  I  hope  is  to  be  writ- 
ten of  our  intellectual  com- 
munion with  France  and 
other  nations,  both  during 
the  war  and  after,  culmi- 
nating in  a  world  uni- 
versity or  academy,  out 
on  that  strip  where  our 
men  are  fighting  side  by 
side. 

I  append  photographs 
of  two  or  three  messages 
that  have  come  from 
lycees  in  the  east  of 
France,  as  an  illustration 
of  the  exchange  which  is 
to  bring  closer  together 
the  children  of  the  world 
who  are  to  rebuild  it.  c  ,     .   ■  i  ■   ^      m         i         •  •     , 

Dchool  girls  in  Caen,  Normandy,  receiving  the 
J.  H.  r.  Commissioner  of  Education  of  New  York 


A  letter  from  a  French  school  girl  in  Epinai 


FRENCH  SCHOOLS  IN  WAR  TIME 

'  I  *  HERE  are  two  armies  for  the  defense  of  our  civilization- 
One  is  the  Army  of  Present  Defense;  the  other  is  the 
Army  of  Future  Defense. 

We  have  for  months  that  have  run  into  years  watched  the 
former,  marveHng  at  its  valors,  sympathizing  with  its  losses.  We 
are  now  mobilizing  and  training  our  own  forces  to  join  in  that 
defense  on  the  crucial  line,  which  civilization  must  hold. 

But  this  side  of  that  line  is  the  other  army,  pictured  by  M. 
Viviani,  former  Minister  of  Public  Instruction  in  France,  when  he 
said:  "  Unless  the  military  authorities  forbid,  the  schools  must 
everywhere  be  kept  open.  Thus  it  may  be  said  that  our  '  scho- 
lastic front '  follows  everywhere  the  very  line  of  the  trenches, 
being  never  more  than  ten  kilometers  distant,  often  less  than  two." 

From  the  military  front  we  have  daily  report.  Hundreds  of 
correspondents  watch  its  every  movement.  The  whole  world, 
whatever  its  occupation,  turns  every  morning  to  see  what  is 
happening  there. 

But  of  the  vast  other  army,  in  France  alone  twice  or  three 
times  the  first  army  in  size,  there  are  but  meager  reports.  It  is 
only  when  its  teachers  and  pupils  are  mobilized  into  the  first  that 
we  are  likely  to  hear  of  them,  either  fighting  in  the  trenches  or 
helping  in  some  specific  way  to  give  material  aid  or  spirit  to  those 
who  are  exposing  their  lives  to  make  the  world  a  safe  place  for 
free  human  beings  to  live  in. 

It  was  this  second  army,  this  **  scholastic  front,"  that,  represent- 
ing a  portion  of  our  conscript  Army  of  Future  Defense  —  tens 
of  thousands  of  teachers  and  millions  of  children  —  I  went  to 
France  to  see,  in  order  that  we  might  have  some  advice  of  those 
under  whose  tuitions  the  immortal  valors  of  the  first  army  have 
been  nourished. 

Of  the  military  front  I  shall  not  speak,  for  hundreds  of  Amer- 
icans permitted  to  visit  that  trenched  strip  (which  I  have  called 

[5] 

D75r-Oi7-jooo 


"  Everyman's  Land  "  and  which  I  hope  is  to  give  foundation  for 
many  international  institutions  of  the  new  world  democracy) 
have  seen  more  than  I  of  its  heroisms  and  horrors,  though  I  trav- 
eled the  length  of  it  from  where  it  touches  the  English  line,  near 
St  Quentin  (whose  spireless  cathedral  I  could  see)  to  St  Die 
under  the  German  guns,  not  more  than  a  half-dozen  miles  from 
the  "  blue  line  of  the  Vosges,"  which  marks  the  border  between 
France  and  its  lost  Alsace  —  St  Die,  to  which  I  made  a  pilgrim- 
age (behind  camouflage  for  many  miles  of  the  way)  because  it 
was  there  that  the  name  "  America  "  is  said  first  to  have  been  put 
on  the  printed  page. 

Tens,  and  I  think  hundreds,  of  thousands  of  men  of  that  Army 
of  Present  Defense  I  saw  in  ceaseless  stream  of  blue,  flowing  to 
and  from  the  front  under  skies  stained  by  the  enemy's  menace 
and  over  fields  planted  with  danger,  or  dotted  with  graves,  but 
there  is  nothing  to  say  of  them  that  the  world  does  not  and  will 
not  know  as  long  as  history  tells  her  story.  My  one  envy  in  life 
is  of  those  who  are  permitted  to  take  their  places  in  that  line. 

And  I  must  quote  in  passing  from  it  to  the  other  front  the  letter 
of  a  girl  in  one  of  the  lycees  that  I  visited  —  the  lycee  where 
General  Gallieni  had  his  quarters  for  a  time  early  in  the  war  — 
a  letter  which  in  one  paragraph  graphically  depicts  the  distance 
by  which  the  millions  on  either  side  of  that  narrow,  trenched 
strip  are  separated,  and  in  the  second  intimates  the  closeness  of  the 
sympathy  between  France  and  America : 

L})cee    Victor  Duru]) 

It  was  only  a  little  river,  almost  a  brook;  it  was  called  the  Yser.  One 
could  talk  from  one  side  to  the  other  without  raising  one's  voice,  and  the 
birds  could  fly  over  it  with  one  sweep  of  their  wings.  And  on  the  two 
banks  there  were  millions  of  men,  the  one  turned  toward  the  other,  eye  to 
eye.  But  the  distance  which  separated  them  was  greater  than  that  of  the 
stars  in  the  sky;  it  was  the  distance  which  separates  right  from  injustice. 

The  ocean  is  so  vast  that  the  sea  gulls  do  not  dare  to  cross  it.  During 
seven  days  and  seven  nights  the  great  steamships  of  America,  going  at  full 
speed,  drive  through  the  deep  waters,  before  the  lighthouses  of  France  come 
into  view;  but  from  one  side  to  the  other  hearts  are  touching. 

Odette  Gastinel  (Classe:  3me  AnneeSecondaire) 


Fac  simile  of  a  letter  from  a  French  school  girl 

Ce   n  el  a  it   qu'iiite     jietite     rtVLcrc^ 
hree>qiie   tm   rutsscatt   ;  on   I  cXtiriclaU 

I  jscr  ;  oa  se   harlail:   dVa  l^ord  a 

I  aiilre    sans   clever     la  votx  ,  dice 

OLSeaiu    la     raiickLesaleiiL     d'ua 

pattemcRL    d'aLlc  .  ht    stir   lc5 
deifX  fives  ,  ll  vj  avalt  dee  irLLiUons 

I'liommes  .toiuues  les  U)i6  vcps 
lee  dulre^  ,  Ics  ijeux   clans  Icsij^tix: 
Mai^  la  distance   am  les  scharatt 
ctall    plus    ^rancle    auc  la    dishiiice 
des  etoUes    dans    le    ciel  ;    c'clalt 

celle  cjtu   seharc     U     droit     de 

Vinju^Uce  , 


L  oceaa   est  si  vaelc  ,c|ue  lee 

moiuttcs  n'o^ml  pae  Ic  l:ravcr5er 
leiidaal   scjil:    joiLr5    cl   6C[it 

itLtlte    Ice   tf^rarids)       baqnenol'S 
d  rlmcpicjuc  ,  lances    d     toule 
vapciir  ^  dccliirertl:    lean     hro'onde 

avaul:   d'ajicrccvoir    ]c5  jifiare^ 
decJrance  ^  flais  d'lta  tord 
a   laiilrc^Ics  cociirs  se  IoucIiciil 

CI  7  Gn^<;  •  -, 


But  the  other  Army  whose  first  lines  are  within  sound  and 
range  of  the  guns !  —  One  covets  the  eloquence  of  a  Viviani 
(such  as  that  with  which  I  heard  him  speak  in  the  French  Senate 
of  his  journey  to  America)  to  tell  of  its  no  less  heroic  endurances 
and  achievements  and  of  its  vital  importance  to  the  future  of 
France  \yhich  the  present  valors  of  her  people  are  revealing  to  the 
world  and  defending  against  destruction. 

When  one  hears  that  more  than  four  thousand  teachers  of 
those  in  France^  who  have  been  called  from  the  Army  of  Future 
Defense  to  that  of  Present  Defense  have  been  cited  for  military 
valor,  one  can  believe  that  the  same  heroic  spirit  pervades  the 
entire  teaching  body  of  France  and  that  the  remark  of  the 
Rector  of  the  University  of  Nancy  (to  anticipate  for  a  moment 
my  visit)  was  warranted.  I  had  been  looking  at  the  broken  walls 
of  an  elementary  school,  wrecked  by  a  shell  which  fell  upon  it  in 
the  midst  of  a  morning's  session.  The  master  of  the  school,  when 
the  shells  began  to  fall  near  the  school  building,  timed  the  interval 
between  the  first  shells,  got  his  children  in  line  for  marching  and 
then  the  moment  a  third  or  fourth  shell  fell,  marched  them  to  a 
building  seventy  paces  away  that  had  a  cellar  with  stout  walls. 
The  next  shell  penetrated  the  school  building  and  would  doubtless 
have  killed  or  maimed  all  the  children  had  they  remained.  I  said 
to  the  Rector  that  this  teacher  should  have  been  given  the  Croix  de 
Guerre.  "  No,"  said  the  Rector  (and  this  is  the  remark),  "  No, 
any  teacher  in  France  would  have  done  this ;  "  —  which  recalls  a 
sentence  from  the  first  report  of  the  present  Director  of  Elemen- 
tary Education  after  the  beginning  of  the  war,  to  the  effect  that 
the  teachers  having  been  accustomed  before  the  war  to  think  con- 
tinuously of  the  good  of  their  pupils  were  kept  even  in  the 
trenches  from  egotism  and  selfishness  {*'  sont  facilement  arraches 
a  Vegoiisme  "). 

And  I  find  better  figure  than  my  own  in  the  tribute  of  this 
gentle   Director    (M.   Lapie)    whom   I   found   in   his   office   in 

*  Thirty  thousand  men  were  called  from  the  elementary  schools  alone  at  the  beginning  of  the 
war,  and  of  course  many  thousands  later. 


8 

the  Rue  de  Crenelle,  but  in  daily  touch  with  this  "  scholastic 
front:"  ^i 

*'  We  admire,  not  without  reason,  the  serenity  of  the  farmer 
who,  two  steps  from  the  battle  line  (a  deux  pas  de  la  bataille) 
is  sowing  for  the  future  his  grain  on  the  bloody  furrows.  [And 
many  such  farmers  or  farmers'  wives  I  saw  on  those  furrows, 
while  the  little  puffs  of  smoke  showed  that  the  enemy  was  in  their 
skies].  Let  us  admire  none  the  less  these  teachers  who,  all  along 
the  line  of  fire,  hold  their  classes  within  sound  of  the  cannon :  they 
also  are  sowing  for  the  future." 

Again  and  again  in  my  journey  there  came  to  me  the  saying 
of  Voltaire:  "  The  spirit  of  France  is  the  candle  of  Europe." 
Voltaire  saw  it  glowing  in  peasants'  huts,  and  he  would  see  it 
now  in  the  trenches  were  he  in  France  today ;  but  I  saw  its  flame, 
too,  in  the  dim-cloistered  places  of  learning,  in  the  halls  of  the 
lycees  and  even  in  little  and  meagerly  furnished  rooms  of  the 
schools  of  France,  which  except  for  its  light  would  have  seemed 
sad  and  somber  places. 

And  one  could  but  recall,  too  (one  must  add  in  this  connection) 
what  Voltaire  said  further  in  speaking  of  this  candle  of  Europe, 
as  if  in  divination  of  what  has  come  to  pass.  "  You  English," 
he  said,  "(nor  all  others)  can  not  blow  it  out.  .  .  And  you 
English  will  be  its  screen  against  the  blowing  out,  though  in 
spasms  of  stupidity  you  flaunt  the  extinguisher." 

The  winds,  savage  in  temper  and  fury  beyond  any  that  have 
ever  blown  over  the  earth,  have  been  driving  across  France  from 
the  northeast,  winds  that  have  razed  villages  to  dust,  that  have 
felled  trees  by  thousands  in  the  fields,  that  have  poisoned  waters 
with  their  breath,  that  have  shown  no  respect  for  schools  or  hos- 
pitals or  churches,  that  have  not  only  denuded  the  fertile  earth  in 
their  path,  but  have  torn  it  so  that  it  will  not  for  years,  if  ever, 
be  able  to  support  life.  But  despite  all  this,  the  spirit  of  France, 
the  candle  of  Europe,  is  unquenched. 

France  has  restricted  the  use  of  food,  fuel  and  light;  she  has 
discouraged  travel  except  for  reasons  of  necessity ;  she  has  mobil- 
ized every  able-bodied  man  for  present  defense;  but  she  has  not 


for  one  moment  forgotten  her  future  defense.  She  has  even 
opened  schools  in  caves  and  occasionally  provided  teachers  and 
pupils  with  gas  masks;  she  has  put  women  by  thousands  in  the 
places  of  men  teachers  called  to  the  front;  she  has  received  back 
into  service  many  men  with  marks  of  honor  upon  their  breasts  who 
have  been  incapaciated  by  wounds,  to  teach  again  in  the  schools 
they  had  left.  Indeed  I  have  seen  many  hundreds  of  children 
from  the  occupied  territory  being  taught  in  casernes  (barracks) 
by  their  women  teachers  who  had  fled  with  them.  But  she  has 
not  except  under  compulsion  of  cannon  and  bombs  tal^en  from  an\j 
child  that  heritage  in  which  alone  is  the  prophecy  of  an  enduring 
nation. 

The  able-bodied  men  of  France  are  fighting  in  the  first  army 
to  preserve  the  candle  that  holds  the  flame,  but  the  teachers  are 
fighting  as  valiantly  in  the  other  to  make  the  candle  worth  the  grim 
game  —  this  candle  of  Europe  which  has  become  the  candle 
of  civilization. 

Lest  the  reader  may  not  follow  my  journey  through  its  more 
than  two  thousand  miles,  by  day  and  by  night,  by  rail,  by  military 
car  and  on  foot,  I  give  my  conclusion  before  I  begin  —  the  advice 
which  France,  out  of  her  physical  anguish  but  unabated  aspiration 
of  spirit,  sends  to  us  from  her  "  scholastic  front."  It  is  this:  "  Do 
not  let  the  needs  of  the  hour,  however  demanding,  or  its  burdens 
however  heav}^,  or  its  perils  however  threatening,  or  its  sorrows 
however  hear t-br calling,  maf^e  you  unmindful  of  the  defense  of 
tomorrow,  of  those  disciplines  through  which  the  individual  may 
have  -freedom,  through  which  an  efficient  democracy  is  possible, 
through  which  the  institutions  of  civilization  can  be  perpetuated 
and  strengthened.  Conserve,  endure  taxation  and  privation, 
suffer  and  sacrifice,  to  assure  to  those  whom  you  have  brought 
into  the  world  that  it  shall  be  not  only  a  safe  but  also  a  happy 
place  for  them.'' 

Not  that  France  has  put  this  advice  into  words.  She  would 
consider  that  presuming.  It  is  the  advice  of  her  doing  that  I  have 
attempted  to  translate. 


10 

When  she  made  plans  for  the  care  of  the  wounded  in  school 
buildings  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  it  was  from  sheer  necessity ; 
there  were  not  enough  hospitals.  But  as  soon  as  the  blesses  could 
be  cared  for  elsewhere,  the  children  were  brought  back  to  the 
schools,  the  lycees  were  filled  up  again,  as  the  statistics  show.  It 
was  only  the  universities  whose  men  students  and  many  of  whose 
professors  were  mobilized  for  the  Army  of  Present  Defense  that 
had  decimated  ranks.  (In  Nancy,  for  example,  I  found  that 
there  were  only  ten  students  in  the  School  of  Medicine  —  four  in 
the  first  year,  three  in  the  second,  two  in  the  third,  and  one  in  the 
fourth  —  and  these  were  women,  foreigners  and  reformes.) 
France  has  kept  open  her  schools,  even  her  universities  (for  her 
professors  have  all  found  some  war  service  in  the  lessened  demand 
of  their  classes)  with  the  persistence  of  an  intuitive  devotion  to 
the  things  of  the  mind.  It  is  as  if  the  winning  of  the  war 
depended  upon  going  on  with  the  educational  processes. 

Here  are  a  few  incidents  of  my  own  observation  or  experience 
which  testify  of  that  devotion : 

The  day  after  my  arrival  I  was  invited  by  the  Minister  of 
Public  Instruction  to  meet  him  at  an  early  hour  the  following 
morning  —  half  past  eight,  which  was  really  half  past  seven  for 
they  had  moved  the  clocks  forward  an  hour  —  and  to  accompany 
him  and  others  in  the  special  inspection  of  an  exhibition  which  had 
just  been  opened  to  show  that  which  I  went  to  France  primarily 
to  see,  namely,  the  work  of  the  children  in  the  schools  during 
war  time.  I  did  not  understand  fully  the  import  of  his  invitation, 
but  when  I  arrived  at  the  appointed  place  in  the  early  morning,  I 
found  that  it  was  the  President  of  the  French  Republic  who  was 
to  make  the  inspection,  accompanied  by  the  Minister  of  Public 
Instruction  arid  other  educational  officials.  There  were  in  this 
exhibition  photographs  of  unusual  conditions  under  which  schools 
were  conducted,  as  at  Rheims.  There  were  photographs  showing 
new  activities,  as  physical  training,  medical  inspection,  sewing 
and  knitting  for  the  soldiers  and  agricultural  work.  There  were 
samples  of  placards  used  throughout  the  schools  in  making  appeals 


11 

for  subscriptions  to  loans  (such  as  our  Liberty  Loans)  or  for 
gold.  There  were  memorials  to  teachers  killed  in  the  war;  there 
were  scores  of  designs  in  expression  or  stimulation  of  patriotic 
spirit;  there  were  hundreds  if  not  thousands  of  composition  books 
relating  to  the  war,  and  almost  all  of  them  illustrated  by  the 
pupils;  and  there  were  great  charts  showing  programs  of  school 
activities  in  war  time.  There  were  also  copies  of  letters  written  by 
children  in  the  French  schools  to  children  in  the  United  States, 
and  letters  themselves  sent  in  return  by  American  school  children. 
(And  I  fear,  from  one  or  two  examples  at  which  I  glanced  in  the 
wake  of  the  President  that  the  latter  were  not  as  well  composed  or 
written  in  English  as  those  that  I  examined  in  French.)  I  shall 
not  forget  with  what  solemn  dignity  and  close  examination 
President  Poincare  and  his  official  companions  testified  of  their 
deep  concern  for  the  schools  and  of  their  conviction  as  to  the 
supreme  importance  of  education  even  in  war  time. 

A  second  incident  significant  of  this  same  attitude  of  the  French 
mind  toward  education  happened  a  day  or  two  afterward,  in  those 
latter  days  of  May  when  things  were  not  the  brightest  for  France. 
This  incident  was  a  "  seance  "  held  in  the  amphitheater  of  the 
Sorbonne  in  the  presence  of  the  President  of  the  Republic.  The 
Minister  of  War,  Painleve  (later  the  Premier),  formerly  a 
professor  in  the  Sorbonne,  was  one  of  the  speakers,  and  the  meet- 
ing was  attended  by  thousands  of  men  and  women,  some  of  whom 
stood  for  two  hours  or  more.  One  unfamiliar  with  the  language 
might  have  assumed  that  it  was  a  great  service  to  cheer  on  the 
Army  of  Present  Defense,  but  while  no  one  could  long  keep  one's 
thought  away  from  the  trenches,  whose  cannon  could  almost  be 
heard,  this  great  popular  assemblage  was  held  to  pay  homage  not 
to  a  soldier  but  to  a  great  teacher  and  scientist,  M.  Berthelot;  and 
after  the  meeting  in  tribute  to  him  had  ended  with  a  mighty 
chorus  of  song,  thousands  of  school  boys  marched  in  the  street 
past  the  monument  unveiled  in  his  honor,  one  troop  carrying  an 
American  flag.  To  certain  minds  outside  of  France,  it  may  have 
seemed  a  sign  of  inefficiency  that  the  President  of  the  Republic 


12 

and  the  Minister  of  War  should  take  hours,  even  of  a  holy  day, 
in  war  time  to  pay  homage  to  a  teacher;  but  it  is,  at  any  rate, 
indicative  of  the  intellectual  habit  of  France. 

There  is  another  illustration.  One  June  day  among  the  somber 
affiches  upon  the  hundreds  of  official  bulletin  boards  containing 
official  announcements  and  w^ar  appeals,  there  appeared  a  bright- 
colored  poster  showing  a  French  child  on  the  way  to  school  with 
a  drawing  portfolio  under  her  arm.  It  was  an  announcement  of 
an  exhibition  of  the  work  in  design  (dessin)  of  the  children  of 
the  Seine,  and  except  for  the  large-lettered  words,  "  pendant  la 
guerre,"  one  might  think  that  the  poster  itself  had  been  carried 
over  from  the  days  of  peace.  I  have  been  hoping  to  bring  this 
exhibit,  or  a  part  of  it,  to  the  United  States^  as  an  intimation  not 
only  of  what  the  children  of  France  normally  do  in  design,  but 
also  of  what  varied  expression  they  find  for  their  patriotic  spirit. 
And  it  is  this  attempt  at  individual  expression  that  is  the  chief  note 
of  all  the  training  in  France.  It  is  not  possession  but  expression. 
Intellectual  exercise,  in  the  higher  ranges  at  any  rate,  seems  the 
supreme  joy  of  accomplishment,  and  in  all  ranges  perfect  expres- 
sion seems  the  common  aim. 

One  further  illustration :  a  few  days  before  General  Pershing's 
arrival  (and  as  one  of  the  great  crowd  that  filled  the  streets  I 
saw  with  what  genuine  enthusiasm  and  instant  admiration  the 
people  welcomed  him),  I  was  permitted  to  visit  a  museum  of  art 
which  even  in  those  anxious  days  before  his  coming  the  men  of 
France  were  preparing  with  such  help  as  they  could  find  from 
those  who  could  not  fight.  Seventy-five  miles  away  the  trench 
warfare  was  going  on  night  and  day.  And,  only  a  few  miles 
nearer.  Carrel  and  others  were  mending  bones  and  healing  as  by 
magic  the  wounded.  Here  in  the  midst  of  Paris,  this  new  museum 
was  being  prepared  for  the  gathering  of  Rodin's  sculptures. 
These  men  representing  France  had  refused  even  in  the  face  of 
the  world's  most  savage  recrudescence  to  give  up  those  arts  in 
which  the  race  has  found  loftiest  expression. 

'  This  collection  is  now  on  the  way  to  America. 


The  Grand  Amphitheater  of  the  Sorbonne 


13 

In  addition  to  the  unspoken  general  advice  which  I  have 
extracted  from  France's  doing  if  not  from  her  Hps,  there  are  these 
specific  suggestions  that  I  have  gathered  from  my  rather  hurried 
visitation  of  the  schools  of  various  grades : 

1  Emphasis  upon  the  acquisition  and  accurate  use  of  the  lan- 
guage of  the  nation.  (France  is  a  one-language  country,  but  the 
ability  of  all  classes  to  use  that  language,  in  written  form  or  in 
speech,  makes  one  feel  that  even  we  who  have  inherited  in  our 
tongues  the  speech  in  which  our  laws  and  history  are  written, 
have  need  to  give  more  attention  to  its  better  common  use.)  I 
was  amazed  by  the  composition  and  penmanship  of  the  letters 
that  I  saw,  as  for  example,  in  the  Bureau  of  the  Fatherless  Chil- 
dren of  France,  where  thousands  are  received,  many  of  them  from 
peasant  mothers  of  children  to  whom  American  children  were 
giving  aid.  And  I  think  I  may  say  in  passing  that  this  exchange 
has  more  than  any  other  agency,  except  President  Wilson's  mes- 
sage, brought  the  children  of  France  to  know  America. 

2  The  intensive  teaching  of  the  few  elementary  subjects  in  the 
first  six  years.  The  great  mass  of  children  in  France  have  only 
these  six  years,  but  I  should  infer  from  what  I  saw  and  heard 
that  they  were  more  thoroughly  trained  in  the  elementary  subjects 
than  the  mass  of  our  children  even  in  a  longer  period  of  years. 
This  is  due  perhaps  to  the  fact  that  there  is  greater  concentration 
upon  these  few  subjects  and  that  education  is  taken  very  seriously 
by  the  parents  as  well  as  by  the  teachers  themselves.  At  present 
there  are  about  six  million  children  in  the  elementary  schools  of 
France,  whereas  the  total  number  enrolled  in  what  are  known 
as  the  higher  primary  schools  and  supplementary  courses,  is  only 
a  little  beyond  one  hundred  thousand,  and  in  the  lycees  about 
the  same  number,  that  is,  about  two  hundred  thousand  beyond 
the  ecole  primaire.  It  should  be  said,  however,  that  the  percen- 
tage of  illiteracy  is  higher  than  in  the  United  States.  This  is  due, 
I  suppose,  to  the  fact  that  there  is  no  central  and  uniform  enforce- 
ment of  attendance  as  in  New  York  State. 

3  The  teaching  of  every  child  to  express  itself,  to  some  extent, 
at  any  rate,  through  drawing  and  singing. 


14 

4  The  building  upon  the  six  years  of  elementary  training  of  a 
three-year  course  in  which  the  boy  or  girl  may  go  toward  his  or 
her  particular  life  work,  this  course  corresponding  roughly  to 
what  we  have  in  mind  under  the  name  of  "  junior  high  school." 
As  intimated  above  under  paragraph  2,  comparatively  few  boys 
and  girls  take  this  additional  three-year  course,  known  as  the 
ecole  primaire  superieure,  the  attendance  in  these  schools  being 
only  about  100,000  as  compared  with  millions  in  the  ecole 
primaire.  There  are  intimations,  however,  that  after  the  war 
there  will  be  compulsory  continuation  schools.  M.  Viviani  intro- 
duced a  bill  in  the  Chamber  of  Deputies  during  his  ministry, 
carrying  provisions  similar  to  those  embodied  in  England's  new 
education  bill. 

5  The  most  rigorous  training  of  those  who  are  selected  or 
permitted  to  go  on  into  secondary  or  higher  training,  that  is,  into 
the  lycees  and  universities. 

6  The  emphasis  upon  intellectual  training  for  the  full  expres- 
sion of  the  individual  rather  than  training  for  material  possession, 
a  characteristic  of  the  French  people  perhaps  because  a  character- 
istic of  its  teaching. 

7  And  the  teaching  everywhere  and  in  all  manner  of  ways  of 
the  love  of  France. 

But  for  the  most  part,  these  are  suggestions  that  would  have 
been  gathered  before  the  war.  There  has  been  no  outward  change 
in  the  curriculum ;  everywhere  this  was  asserted. 

At  the  same  time  there  have  been  changes  in  the  interpretation 
and  emphasis  given  to  the  old  curriculum,  and  new  activities  have 
claimed  the  thought  of  teacher  and  pupil  in  holiday  and  after- 
school  hours  and  even  to  some  extent  in  the  midst  of  their  regular 
studies,  such,  for  example,  as  the  cultivation  of  the  fields  and 
gardens.  There  was,  however,  no  nation-wide  organization  of 
such  effort,  no  mobilization  for  the  immediate  aid  of  the  Army  of 
Present  Defense  except  in  the  matters  of  helping  by  school  chil- 
dren's contribution  to  care  for  the  orphans,  or  by  school  sewing 
and  cooking  to  send  articles  of  need  to  the  soldiers  or  of  support- 
ing the  national  loans,  or  of  the  gathering  of  gold  from  the  places 
of  its  hoarding. 


15 

There  is  growing  an  interest  in  physical  training.  A  general 
physical  training  syllabus  has  been  prepared  for  use  in  the  schools, 
but  that  use  is  not  compulsory.  Here  and  there  I  found  medical 
inspection  and  physical  training  going  forward. 

Here  and  there  I  saw,  too,  some  evidences  of  pre-military 
training  under  the  patronage  of  a  national  organization  but  of 
private  support.  Military  training  is,  however,  not  to  be  made  a 
part  of  the  public  school  training.  The  experiment  which  was 
attempted  some  fifteen  years  ago  proved  not  to  be  a  successful 
one,  and  now,  as  is  known,  every  boy  at  18  or  19  has  to  begin 
intensive  military  training.  It  is  likely  that  after  the  war  there 
will  come  universal  compulsory  physical  training  (such  as  New 
York  now  has),  for  the  French  are  beginning  to  appreciate  the 
value  of  giving  attention  to  the  health  education  of  the  child. 

But  in  one  cause  the  children  of  France  were  mobilized,  as 
intimated  above  and  as  the  following  statement  concerning  the 
second  loan  will  show: 

In  every  lycee,  college  and  school  of  France,  during  the  second  fortnight 
of  October,  the  work  of  the  classes  was  directed  to  showing  the  importance 
of  the  great  duty  that  the  country  laid  upon  her  children.  Reading  lessons, 
compositions,  Latin  versions  even  were  turned  into  means  for  explaining 
the  necessity  of  the  loan,  its  mechanism,  its  advantages.  All  the  masters 
made  their  pupils  learn  "  The  appeal  to  the  French,"  an  ardent  passage 
from  the  speech  pronounced  in  the  Chamber  of  Deputies,  on  September  1 4, 
1916,  by  M.  Ribot,  financial  minister. 

In  certain  departments,  at  the  October  session  of  the  C.  E.  P.  (certificat 
d'etudes  primaires),  the  primary  inspectors  set  the  young  candidates  ques- 
tions relative  to  the  loan,  and  thus  assured  themselves  that  the  efforts  of  the 
teachers  had  not  been  in  vain. 

The  drawings  of  Rabier  and  more  particularly  of  Hansi  had  been  dis- 
tributed by  millions  and  had  rendered  the  lessons  pleasant  and  easy.  The 
mastef  commented  the  text  and  developed  the  idea.  Thus  through  the 
child  he  reached  the  family,  to  which  the  pupil  carried  the  direct  and  full 
echo  of  his  master's  sentiments  and  voice. 

Artistic  posters  on  the  walls  of  the  classrooms  were  an  incessant  appeal 
to  duty  and  a  stimulative  of  energy  and  hope. 

And  a  few  days  before  the  loan  was  closed,  M.  Paul  Pain- 
leve.    Minister  of   Public   Instruction,    addressed   the   following 


16 

eloquent  and  vigorous  appeal  to  the  members  of  the  teaching 
profession : 

In  a  few  days  the  subscriptions  to  the  loan  will  be  closed.  The  con- 
fidence and  patriotism  of  the  country  have  fully  responded  to  the  appeal  of 
Government;  but  it  is  essential  that  the  financial  power  of  France  should, 
after  two  years  of  war,  affirm  itself  as  victoriously  as  the  power  of  her  arms. 

It  is  on  our  schoolmasters  and  schoolmistresses,  it  is  on  the  teachers  in 
all  the  grades  of  our  education,  it  is  on  their  moral  authority,  on  their  ever 
persuasive  and  effective  propaganda,  that  it  is  incumbent  to  urge  the  back- 
ward to  their  duty.  He  who  is  capable  of  subscribing  to  the  loan  and  does 
not  subscribe,  is  a  deserter:  he  abandons  his  brothers  at  the  front.  Far 
from  shortening  the  war,  as  an  infamous  movement  claims,  he  prolongs  it: 
if  he  does  not  rob  us  of  victory,  which  can  no  longer  escape  us,  he  makes 
her  approach  more  slow  and  sanguinary. 

In  penietrating  the  souls  and  hearts  of  our  youth  with  these  truths,  our 
masters  do  not  accomplish  a  merely  educational  task.  Their  influence 
spreads  far  beyond  the  walls  of  their  classrooms.  Numerous  as  are  the 
schools  which  have  agreed  to  contribute  directly  to  the  defense  of  the 
country,  it  is  not  by  the  sums  paid  into  the  treasury  that  the  magnitude  of 
the  duty  accomplished  is  to  be  measured,  but  rather  by  the  value  of  the 
example  and  its  echo  in  all  classes  of  the  nation. 

The  National  Assembly  used  to  accord  the  honors  of  the  sitting  to  the 
deputations  from  schools  bringing  their  money  to  the  country  in  danger. 
Such  deputations  would  be  innumerable  today. 

To  establish  a  lasting  souvenir  of  this  patriotic  effort,  I  have  decided, 
in  agreement  with  the  Minister  of  Finance,  to  give  a  diploma  of  honor  to  all 
the  educational  establishments  which  have  contributed  to  the  national  loan. 
Each  of  the  young  subscrbers  will  further  receive  a  smaller  diploma  certify- 
ing that,  rich  or  poor,  child  or  youth,  he  has  made  his  offering  to  furnish  the 
arms  of  his  seniors  with  still  more  powerful  weapons  for  the  decisive 
victory. 

Here  is  a  direct  precedent  for  the  campaign  which  was  carried 
on  by  the  schools  of  the  United  States  in  support  of  the  second 
Liberty  Loan. 

And  it  is  reported  that  in  response  there  was  not  a  lycee,  col- 
lege, normal  school,  or  higher  primary  school  that  did  not  sub- 
scribe. Even  the  primary  schools  made  general  and  generous 
response.  I  have  seen  many  letters  from  teachers  and  school 
children  which  give  intimation  of  what  was  done  both  inside 
through  direct  subscription  and  outside  of  the  schools  in  soliciting 
subscriptions  for  the  loans  by  the  townspeople.     One  instance  is 


17 

especially  appealing  because  of  the  commonplace  detail  of  the 
sacrifice  which  it  reveals: 

At  Plemeleuc,  a  little  village  of  Ille-et-Vilaine,  a  peasant  addresses  Mile. 

D ,  the  schoolmistress:     "  Mademoiselle,  you  tell  me  to  invest,  but  do 

you  do  so  yourself?  "  "  My  friend,"  she  answ^ers,  "  since  we  have  been 
at  war,  you  have  not  seen  me  spend  a  penny  on  a  toilette,  a  hat,  a  dress, 
anything.  I  am  going  to  make  my  last  year's  hat  do  just  as  it  is  for  this 
winter,  and  you  know  I  am  not  grasping.  But  I  prefer  to  give  a  soldier  a 
gun  than  to  buy  myself  a  dress."  And  the  peasant  brought  in  all  his 
savings  as  a  subscription  to  the  national  loan. 

I  have,  however,  brought  back  not  only  this  general  and 
specific  advice  of  France  to  us,  but  also  eloquent  messages,  in 
answer  to  those  that  I  carried  over,  from  every  one  of  the  univer- 
sities of  France  that  I  visited  —  and  I  visited  all  save  the  smaller 
universities  of  Besangon,  Aix,  Clermont,  and  the  lamented  Lille 
which  was  still  back  of  the  German  lines,  though  many  of  her 
professors  and  students  were  scattered  over  other  parts  of  France. 
Some  of  them  I  met  at  Paris  at  a  "  tea  "  given  late  at  night, 
following  an  ancient  custom ;  and  one  I  found  in  Poitiers  — 
shepherds  who  had  found  new  flocks.  One  of  her  professors  had 
even  gone  to  far-away  Algiers;  and  Angellier,  her  great  poet- 
teacher  who  had  clung  to  Lille  in  the  days  before  the  war  rather 
than  go  to  a  professorship  in  the  University  of  Paris,  had  been 
saved  by  death  from  even  anticipating  the  fate  of  his  beloved  city 
though  he  saw  the  "  blackbirds  homing  to  cathedral  towers." 
The  Rector  (M.  Lion)  was,  however,  still  in  Lille,  so  I  was 
told,  ministering  to  the  schools. 

But  I  must  first  say  a  word  concerning  the  messages  which 
I  had  the  high  honor  to  bear  across  the  ocean  to  the  Universities 
and  schools  of  France.  I  went  by  authorization  of  the  Regents 
of  The  University  of  the  State  of  New  York  whose  organization 
and  function  most  nearly  of  all  our  state  systems  of  education  in 
this  country  where  education  is  a  state  function,  resemble  the  all- 
embracing  University  of  France,  which  was,  however,  established 
nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  after  The  University  of  the  State  of 
New  York.     But  it  was  my  great  privilege  to  be  entrusted  with 


18 

messages  of  amity,  greetings  from  more  than  one  hundred  twenty 
colleges  and  universities,  as  well  as  from  President  Wilson, 
Governor  Whitman,  and  from  others  of  our  foremost  representa- 
tive American  citizens.  These  were  as  the  **  prodrome  "  of 
what  the  universities  and  colleges  and  schools  of  America  have 
since  been  sending  or  preparing  to  send  from  their  campuses  to  give 
glorious  confirmation  to  the  utterances  of  these  letters  from  univer- 
sity presidents,  resolutions  of  faculties  and  student  bodies,  a  collec- 
tion to  which  I  gave  the  title  taken  from  President  Butler's  letter ; 
"  To  the  Flower  of  France  and  therefore  to  the  Flower  of 
Modem  Civilization," —  a  collection  which  the  great  French 
philosopher  best  known  in  America  called  a  "  Golden  Book,  " 
and  which  I  have  recently  been  advised  has  been  printed  by  the 
French  government  and  distributed  throughout  France,^  I  was 
but  the  courier  for  these  messages,  which  I  think  were  of  distinct 
moral  aid  to  the  people  of  France  in  the  dark  days  before  the 
arrival  of  the  first  American  troops. 

The  summary  of  this  precious  collection  (and  I  am  doubting 
if  one  more  eloquent  or  significant  was  ever  carried  between  the 
schools  of  the  two  republics),  I  presented  at  all  the  university 
centers  that  I  visited  (Paris,  Nancy,  Dijon,  Lyons,  Grenoble, 
Montpellier,  Toulouse,  Caen,  Rennes,  Poitiers  and  Bordeaux), 
and  found  such  a  welcome  awaiting  them  that  I  was  prevented 
from  seeing  as  much  of  the  routine  work  of  the  schools  as  I  had 
hoped,  for  America  had  but  lately  come  into  the  consciousness  of 
the  children  of  France  and  everywhere  they  were  assembled  with 
the  cry  of  *'  Vive  I'Amerique  "  upon  their  lips. 

This  summary,  which  I  regret  could  not  have  included  every 
message  in  its  full  text,  follows  in  the  form  which  it  was  given 
in  translation.  It  is  gratifying  that  the  French  government 
through  its  Maison  de  la  Presse  has  made  it  possible  for  these 
greetings  of  America  to  be  heard  in  every  corner  of  France. 


'  Copies  of  the  French  version  have  just  reached  America. 


MESSAGES 


DES 


UNIVERSITES,   COLLEGES    &    ECOLES 


DES 

ETATS-UNIS 
D'AMERIQUE 

AU 
MINISTRE   DE   L'INSTRUCTION    PUBLIQUE 

ET  AUX 

UNIVERSITES,  LYCEES    &    £COLES 

DE  FRANCE 

PRESENTES  PAR  LE 

DocTEUR  JOHN  FINLEY 

Directeur  de  I' Enseignement  el 
Prtaident  de  I'Universite  de  I'Etat  de  New-York 


191  7 


A  la  fleur  de  la  FRANCE 
cest  a  dire  a  la  fleur 
de  la  Civilisation  Moderne. 

Quand  je  vins  en  France,  il  y  aura  bientot  sept  ans,  c'etait  dans  le  but 
d'y  rappeler  une  page  d'histoire,  momentanement  oubliee  peut-etre,  je  le 
craignais  du  moins.  Aujourd'hui,  j'y  viens  prendre  une  le^on.  Je  rap- 
pelms  alors  la  vaieur  et  les  sacrifices  de  ces  pionnlers  et  de  ces  explorateurs 
de  France,  pretres  et  soldats,  qui  donnerent  a  rhumanite  une  nouvelle 
nation:  rimmense  territoire  s'etendant  des  monts  Alleghany  jusqu'au  dela 
du  grand  Mississippi,  qui  fut  "  La  Nouvelle-France  "  et  qui  est  aujourd- 
'hui le  "  Heart  of  America  ",  le  coeur  meme  de  TAmerique.  J'evoquais 
cette  admirable  epopee  ecrite  par  la  France  comme  une  preface  glorieuse 
et  dramatique  aux  chapitres  de  I'histoire  de  notre  pays,  evoquees  aujourd- 
'hui, chez  vous  comme  chez  nous,  avec  une  emotion  profonde  et  dans 
lesquels  les  noms  de  La  Fayette,  de  Rochambeau,  de  De  Grasse  et  de 
Beaumarchais,  figurent  aupres  de  ceux  de  Washington,  de  Franklin  et  de 
Jefferson.  Cette  epopee  splendide  de  Jacques  Cartier  de  Saint-Malo,  de 
Samuel  Champlain  de  Brouage,  du  Pere  Marquette  de  Laon  (dont  la 
mere  etait  de  Reims),  de  M.  de  La  Salle  de  Rouen,  et  de  cent  autres  qui 
avec  eux  donnerent  leur  vie  pour  la  France  et  qui,  en  meme  temps, 
revelerent  au  monde  et  ouvrirent  a  la  civilisation  la  plus  vaste  et  la  plus 
fertile  vallee  de  la  terre. 

Ces  hommes  dont  j'evoquais  le  souvenir  il  y  a  sept  ans,  aftn  que  votre 
pays  et  le  mien  en  gardassent  un  culte  vivant,  nous  apparaissent  mauntenant 
comme  les  precurseurs  des  Francais  d'aujourd'hui  qui  se  sont  reveles  d'une 
vaieur  incomparable,  et  c'est  pourquoi  je  viens  aujourd'hui  visiter  les  ecoles 
ou  ces  admirables  qualites  ont  ete  developpees,  afin  de  savoir  ce  que  nous 
autres  Americains  devons  faire  pour  devenir  des  camarades  dignes  de  vous 
dans  la  lutte  supreme  pour  la  liberte  humaine.  Car,  certainement,  le 
systeme  d'education  qui  a  donne  a  la  France  la  place  que  le  monde  entier 
lui  reconnait  doit  etre  compris  et  imite. 

Au  cours  de  ma  premiere  visite,  dans  une  conference  a  la  Sorbonne,  je 
citais  une  invocation  a  la  France  faite  par  un  de  ses  fils,  Lescarbot,  il  y  a 
trois  cents  ans,  quand  il  se  trouvait  la-bas  dans  les  parages  deserts  et  sau- 
vages  de  I'Amerique  du  Nord.  Les  evenements  actuels  donnent  a  une  partie 
de  ce  message  un  interet  tout  particulier: 

"  Bel  oeil  de  I'univers,  ancienne  nourrice  des  Lettres  et  des 
Armes.   .   .   II  vous  faut,  dis-je,  (6  chere  mere!)  faire  une  alli- 

[21] 


22 

ance  imitant  le  cours  du  Soleil,  lequel  comme  il  porte  chaque 
jour  sa  lumiere  d'ici  en  la  Nouvelle-France :  ainsi,  que  continuelle- 
ment  votre  civilite,  votre  justice,  votre  pitie,  bref,  votre  lumiere, 
se  transporte  la  meme  par  vos  enfants." 

Je  suis  venu  chercher  cette  lumiere  et  apprendre  ici  quel  est  le  devoir  de 
la  Nouvelle-France  dans  la  lutte  terrible  que  livre  aujourd'hui  la  civilisation. 

Si  c'est  la  le  but  principal  de  ma  mission,  je  suis  charge  en  outre, 
d'exprimer  la  profonde  admiration  que  les  professeurs  et  les  etudiants 
americains  eprouvent  pour  la  France.  J'apporte  avec  moi  un  dossier 
precieux,  et  en  traversant  I'ocean,  j'avais  pris  mes  dispositions  pour  I'assurer 
solidement  autour  de  mon  corps  si  notre  paquebot  etait  torpille.  C'est  une 
collection  de  messages  des  universites  et  colleges  qui  fleurissent  dans  toutes 
les  regions  de  notre  pays,  depuis  les  cotes  du  Maine,  explorees  par  Cham- 
plain,  jusqu'a  ces  cotes  qui  regardent  la  Chine  et  qu'il  cherca  a  decouvrir, 
et  des  Grands  Lacs  du  Nord  que  les  bateaux  de  La  Salle  ont  les  premiers 
traverses,  jusqu'a  I'embouchure  du  grand  fleuve  dont  il  prit  possession  au 
nom  de  Louis  XIV.  Ces  messages  sont  I'expression  de  la  pensee  de  toute 
I'Amerique  qui  embrasse  la  cause  pour  laquelle  la  France  a  souffert  au  dela 
de  toute  imagination  et  a  affermi  sa  place  dans  I'immortalite. 

Je  viens  avec  un  mandat  DE  L'UNIVERSITE  DE  L'£TAT  DE 
NEW- YORK.  Cette  vaste  organisation  universitaire,  fondee  en  1  784, 
ressemble  par  I'etendue  de  son  enseignement  a  votre  Universite  de  France, 
et  exerce  son  action  sur  plus  de  deux  millions  d'enfants  et  de  jeunes  gens. 
L' enseignement  aux  £tats-Unis  n'est  pas  une  institution  nationale,  mais 
il  est  particulier  a  chaque  £tat.  Si  I'Etat  de  New-York  a  pris  I'initative 
de  cette  mission,  c'est  qu'il  assume  les  plus  lourdes  responsabiiites  ayant  le 
plus  grand  nombre  d'eleves  a  instruire  et  les  problemes  les  plus  difficiles  a 
resoudre,  c'est  que  ses  cotes  sont  plus  voisines  des  votres,  c'est  que  son 
commerce  et  ses  sympathies  le  rendent  plus  proche  de  vous,  c'est  enfin 
qu'une  oeuvre  frangaise,  la  statue  de  la  Liberte,  salue  a  I'entree  de  son  port 
les  navires  qui  reviennent  de  France. 

Le  Gouverneur  de  I'fitat  de  New- York  m'a  charge  de  remettre  au 
President  de  votre  Republique  un  eloquent  message  qui  comprend  la  proc- 
lamation lancee  pour  celebrer  dans  tout  I'ttat  le  "France  Day":  la 
"  Journee  de  la  France  ".  J'ai  eu  le  privilege,  en  ma  qualite  de  directeur 
de  I'Enseignement,  d'adresser  cette  proclamation  aux  douze  mille  etablis- 
sements  scolaires  de  I'Etat  et  de  designer  comme  date  celle  du  26  avril,  qui 
marque  a  la  fois  I'arrivee  de  la  Mission  francaise  aux  £tats-Unis  et 
I'anniversaire  de  I'embarquement  de  La  Fayette  pour  I'Amerique  en  1777. 


23 

JOURNEE  DE  LA  FRANCE 
(Proclamation  du  Gouveraeur  de  I'Etat  de  New-York) 

II  convient  que  le  pays  reconnaisse  toute  I'importance  du  jour 
que  marque  un  evenement  si  considerable  dans  I'histoire  de  notre 
patrie  bien-aimee.  Les  £tats-Unis  font  maintenant  partie  de 
cette  societe  fraternelle  de  nations,  unies  et  alliees  pour  assurer 
le  triomphe  de  la  democratie  dans  le  monde.  La  premiere  mani- 
festation de  cette  nouvelle  union  international  est  I'arrivee  sur 
nos  rivages  d'une  delegation  officielle  de  la  Republique-soeur 
composee  d'eminentes  personnalities  civiles  et  militaires  de  France. 

La  statue  de  la  Liberte  dans  le  port  de  New- York,  le 
monument  commemoratif  erige  en  1912  dans  la  vallee  du  lac 
Champlain,  symbolisent  le  sentiment  de  la  France  a  I'egard  de 
I'Amerique;  ce  sentiment  se  manifeste  aussi  par  la  celebration  de 
nos  grandes  fetes  nationales  dans  la  capitale  de  la  France  et  par 
I'erection  de  statues  aux  glorieux  fondateurs  de  la  liberte  ameri- 
caine,  Washington  et  Lincoln,  et  tout  dernierement  encore  par 
raffichage  du  message  du  President  Wilson  et  la  presentation  du 
drapeau  americain  a  toutes  les  ecoles  de  France. 

New- York  ne  manquera  pas  de  profiter  de  I'occasion  qui  lui 
est  offerte  pour  exprimer  ses  profonds  sentiments  de  respect  et 
d'admiration  au  principal  champion  de  la  liberte,  a  I'amie  histori- 
que  de  I'Amerique,  a  la  patrie  de  La  Fayette.  Le  jour  choisi 
pour  celebrer  I'arrivee  de  ces  delegues  coincide  heureusement 
avec  I'anniversaire  de  I'embarquement  de  La  Fayette  a  Bordeaux, 
lorsqu'il  vint  se  donner  tout  entier  a  la  cause  de  la  liberte  de 
notre  propre  pays. 

II  est  essentiel  que  nous  concevions  parfaitement  les  motifs 
depourvus  de  toute  pensee  egoiste  et  de  tout  desir  de  conquete 
qui  nous  ont  pousses,  en  tant  que  peuple,  a  participer  a  cette 
guerre.  Le  message  du  President  des  £tats-Unis  est  la  noble 
expression  du  sentiment  intime  de  I'Amerique  et  des  raisons  aux- 
quelles  la  France  a  sacrifie  les  precieuses  vies  de  milliers  de  ses 
his,  le  travail  de  ses  femmes  et  de  ses  enfants  et  les  ressources  de 
sa  terre. 


24 

Le  but  de  cette  mission  speciale  est  d'etablir  d'amicales  rela- 
tions entre  les  deux  pays,  ainsi  que  leur  collaboration  intime  dans 
leur  lutte  commune.  Suivant  les  resolutions  du  senat  de  I'ttat 
de  New- York,  je  recommande  que  le  26  avril  soit  choisi  comme 
la  "  Journee  de  la  France  ",  et  qu'il  soit  considere  dans  tout 
r£tat  comme  un  jour  de  fete  a  I'occasion  de  I'arrivee  de  la  mission 
frangaise  et  en  commemoration  de  I'amitie  Historique  qui  lie  les 
deux  nations. 

D'accord  aussi  avec  le  Commissaire  special  de  I'fiducation,  je 
recommande  que,  ce  joux-la,  le  message  du  President  soit  lu 
dans  toutes  les  ecoles  de  I'Etat,  et  qu'on  y  fasse  solennellement 
connaitre  toute  I'etendue  de  nos  responsabilites  et  le  privilege  qui 
nous  est  donne  de  pouvoir  combattre  aux  cotes  de  la  France  et 
des  Allies  pour  la  cause  de  la  liberte,  de  I'humanite  et  de  la 
justice. 

Cependant,  bien  que  je  tienne  mon  mandat  d'un  seul  £tat,  le  plus  riche, 
il  est  vrai,  en  etablissements  scolaires,  les  messages  que  j'apporte  presentent 
vraiment  un  caractere  national. 

Void  le  salut  de  celui  qui  fut  d'abord  mon  professeur,  et  dont  je  devins 
plus  tard  le  collegue,  comme  professeur  d'economie  politique  a  TUniversite 
de  Princeton,  WOODROW  WILSON,  President  des  £tats-Unis. 

Au  lendemain  de  mon  debarquement,  j'ai  vu  le  President  de  votre 
Republique  qui,  laiss  ant  momentanement  de  cote  les  angoissantes  questions 
de  I'heure  presente,  a  bien  voulu,  d'un  esprit  eclaire  et  bienveillant,  me 
parler  de  la  situation  des  enfants  des  ecoles  elementaires  pendant  la  guerre. 
De  son  cote,  le  President  de  la  Republique  de  mon  propre  pays,  dans 
I'intense  activite  des  premiers  jours  qui  ont  suivi  notre  entree  en  guerre,  a 
montre  le  sincere  interet  qu'il  porte  a  cette  mission,  en  me  demandant 
d'apporter  son  "  salut  le  plus  cordial  aux  universiles  et  enfants  des  ecoles 
de  France  et  a  leurs  maitres." 

Pareil  interet  de  la  part  des  Presidents  des  deux  grandes  Republiques 
fait  bien  ressortir  I'importance  primordiale  des  ecoles,  surtout  en  ces  jours  de 
crise  mondiale. 

C'est  un  grand  privilege  de  vous  apporter  aussi  {'expression  de  vibrante 
sympathie  d'un  de  mes  amis  de  longue  date,  I'ex-PRESIDENT  ROOSE- 
VELT, qui,  comme  vous  le  savez,  a  ete  le  champion  loyal  et  ardent  de  la 
grande  cause  pour  laquelle  vous  combattez  depuis  bientot  trois  ans.  Quand 
je  I'ai  quitte  a  la  veille  de  mon  depart  d'Amerique,  il  attendait  avec  impa- 


25 

tience  dans  I'espoir  de  pouvoir  venir  lui-meme  apporter  son  message  a  la 
France,  le  lui  apporter  dans  les  tranchees  et  lui  donner  toute  sa  valeur  en 
faisant  usage  d'un  langage  qui  en  ce  moment  a  une  eloquence  et  une  signifi- 
cation infiniment  plus  hautes  que  celui  des  mots.  Vous  me  permettrez  done 
de  vous  dire  tout  simplement  que  I'ex-President  Roosevelt  est  avec  vous  de 
coeur  et  qu'il  vous  envoie  son  fraternel  salut  avec  une  foi  profonde  dans  la 
cause  de  la  civilisation  et  la  certitude  absolue  du  triomphe  de  la  democratic. 
J'ai  rcQU  de  notre  ancien  President  de  la  Republique,  William  H.  Taft, 
le  temoignage  suivant  de  son  admiration  pour  la  France: 

"  Je  suis  enchante  d'apprendre  que  vous  allez  porter  aux  uni- 
versites  et  aux  ecoles  de  France  un  message  des  universites  et 
colleges  des  £tats-Unis.  Rien,  au  cours  de  cette  guerre,  n'a 
souleve  une  admiration  aussi  profonde  et  aussi  emue  que  la  ferme 
et  magnifique  determination,  le  calme  du  peuple  francais  dans  la 
lutte  terrible  qu'il  soutient  pour  sauver  la  France  et  pour  detruire 
I'autocratie  militaire  qui  continuerait  a  menacer  la  paix  du  monde 
si  on  lui  permettait  de  vivre.  Les  universites  americaines  ne  pou- 
vaient  choisir  pour  une  telle  mission  un  meilleur  representant  que 
vous,  et  je  me  felicite  que  nous  ayons  un  aussi  admirable  inter- 
prete  de  I'esprit  fraternel  que  les  universites  et  colleges  de  ce  pays 
doivent  manif ester  aux  universites  de  France." 

William  H.  Taft 

Je  vous  apporte  aussi  le  message  d'un  de  nos  grands  hommes  d'Etat: 
"  Dites,  je  vous  prie,  a  vos  amis  des  universites  frangais  aux- 
quelles  vous  allez  rendre  visite,  que  la  cooperation  de  I'Amerique 
avec  la  France  n'est  nulle  part  plus  sincere  que  dans  ses  efforts 
pour  aider  le  nouveau  gouvernement  russe.  Mais  ce  que  nous 
pouvons  faire  est  peu  de  chose,  en  regard  de  ce  que  peut  faire  la 
France.  La  longue  et  traditionnelle  amitie  entre  la  France  et  la 
Russie,  les  etroites  relations  entre  les  gens  de  Lettres  de  France  et 
les  intellectuels  russes  qui  ont  ete  les  precurseurs  de  la  revolution, 
la  dette  d'honneur  de  la  Russie  envers  le  pays  qui  a  fait  de  si  ter- 
ribles  sacrifices  pour  rester  fidele  a  son  alliance,  tout  cela  doit 
donner  a  la  France  une  grande  influence  sur  le  peuple  russe. 
J'espere  que  cette  influence  va  s'exercer  activement  et  sans  delai 


26 

pour  enseigner  aux  chefs  de  I'opinion  russe  cette  maitrise  de  soi, 
cet  esprit  civique  et  desinteresse  qui  sont  necessaires  a  I'etablisse- 
ment  et  au  maintien  d'un  gouvernement  democratique." 

Elihu  Root 

II  me  faut  maintenant  citer  en  entier  le  message  du  professeur  Barrett 
Wendell,  de  I'Universite  Harvard,  le  premier  des  professeurs  d'echange 
americains  venus  dans  votre  beau  pays  ou  il  a  laisse  de  si  bons  souvenirs: 

"  Le  sens  des  evenements  de  ces  dernieres  annees  devient  si 
clair  que  les  mots  n'ajoutent  plus  rien  a  sa  clarte.  Mise  a  I'epre- 
uve  comme  jamais  nation  ne  I'avait  ete  jusqu'ici,  la  France  s'est 
montree  plus  magnifique  que  jamais.  Au  cours  de  toute  sa 
grande  histoire,  aucune  autre  periode  n'atteint  a  la  supreme 
grandeur  de  la  periode  actuelle.  L'endurance  courageuse, 
patiente,  inebranlable,  que  la  France  a  montree,  est  la  preuve 
d'une  valeur  nationale  que  rien  ne  saura  jamais  ternir.  Meme 
si,  ce  qui  semble  maintenant  impossible,  la  fortune  des  armes 
devait  tourner  contre  elle,  la  victoire  que  I'esprit  fran^ais  a  rem- 
portee  dans  le  cceur  du  monde,  resterait  encore  le  plus  haut  geste 
de  sa  noble  tradition.  Aussi,  est-il  impossible  d'exagerer  I'im- 
portance  de  la  joie  solennelle  avec  laquelle  nous,  Americains,  nous 
trouvons  enfin  dresses  aux  cotes  de  la  France  contre  I'ennemi 
commun  de  I'ldeal  de  I'Humanite. 

Quand  notre  prochaine  victoire  aura  definitivement  rendu  la 
paix  au  monde,  c'est  dans  les  universites  francaises  que  les  etu- 
diants  americains  trouveront  la  lumiere  que  trop  souvent,  dans  le 
passe,  ils  ont  cherchee  en  vain  dans  les  tenebres  des  universites 
allemandes,  et  cela  sera  un  des  plus  heureux  resultats  de  notre 
victoire.     Je  salue  done  les  universites  francaises.  .  . 

Barrett  Wendell 

Des  messages  concus  dans  le  meme  sens  auraient  ete  certainement  envoyes 
par  des  milliers  de  nos  maitres  de  la  Pensee  et  de  I'Action  en  Amerique,  si 
tous  avaient  pu  etre  sollicites,  mais  le  temps  manquait  car  mon  voyage  avait 
ete  hate  au  dernier  moment  par  d'imperatives  raisons  professionnelles. 

Le  jour  oil  je  me  suis  embarque,  les  representants  de  six  cents  etablisse- 
ments  d'enseignement  aux  Ctats-Unis,  s'etaient  reunis  a  Washington  pour  y 


27 


deliberer  sur  ce  que  les  professeurs  et  les  eleves  des  universites,  des  colleges, 
des  ecoles  techniques  et  professionnelles  ainsi  que  I'elite  du  monde  des  arts 
et  des  sciences  pouvaient  faire  en  commun  pour  servir  le  pays  dans  cette  crise, 
Du  president  de  cette  conference,  lequel  siege  egalement  au  Conseil  con- 
sultatif  de  la  nation,  j'ai  regu  le  telegramme  suivant,  qui  m'est  parvenu 
quand  nous  etions  deja  en  mer. 

"  Nous,  representants  de  600  colleges  et  universites  de  la 
Republique  Americaine,  reunis  a  Washington  pour  conferer  sur 
les  devoirs  qui  nous  incombent  dans  la  situation  presente,  vous 
prions  d'abord  d'assurer  les  colleges  et  universites  de  France  de 
notre  profonde  sympathie  et  de  notre  admiration  pour  les  sacrifices 
heroi'ques  qu'ils  ont  faits  a  la  cause  de  la  liberte  et  de  la  civilisa- 
tion, et  de  leur  dire  que  nous  nous  engageons  a  travailler  avec  eux 
au  maintien  des  traditions  de  la  science  et  de  I'enseignement, 
traditions  que  I'histoire  de  la  France  illustre  d'une  fagon  si 
frappante.  Nous  nourrissons  le  ferme  et  cher  espoir  que  la  cause 
de  I'education  sortira  victorieuse  des  horreurs  presentes,  que  les 
educateurs,  guides  par  un  ideal  plus  eleve  encore,  poursuivront 
plus  resolument  que  jamais,  leur  ceuvre  de  perfectionnement  de 
la  vie  morale  et  intellectuelle  de  la  France,  de  TAmerique  et  de 
toutes  les  nations." 

II  ne  m'est  pas  possible  de  vous  donner  en  entier  les  resolutions,  lettres 
officielles  et  personnelles,  telegrammes,  cablogrammes  qui  me  sont  parvenus 
de  tout  le  territoire  des  £tats-Ums  pendant  les  quelques  jours  qui  ont  pre- 
cede mon  depart  ou  que  j'ai  re^us  depuis  mon  arrivee  en  France.  Avertis 
de  la  mission  qui  m'amenait  vers  vous,  la  grande  majorite  des  etablisse- 
ments  d'education  de  mon  pays,  parmi  laquelle  figurent  les  plus  anciens 
et  les  plus  renommes  de  nos  colleges  et  de  nos  universites,  m'ont  charge  de 
vous  apporter  I'expression  de  leurs  sentiments.  C'est  pour  moi  un  grand 
honneur  et  une  grande  joie  que  de  vous  transmettre  plus  de  cent  messages 
fraternels  emanant  de  nos  grands  groupements  d'etudiants,  de  membres  les 
plus  eminents  de  notre  corps  enseignant,  de  Presidents  de  facultes  et  d'uni- 
versites.  Si  elles  different  dans  la  forme,  elles  se  rencontrent  toutes  dans 
une  manifestation  unanime  d'admiration  pour  la  France.  Dans  leur 
ensemble,  elles  constituent  un  temoignage  emouvant  d'amitie  et  d'admiration. 
Malgre  I'hostilite  sauvage  et  sans  merci  des  sous-marins,  ces  fragiles  feuillets 
qui  vous  montrent  le  coeur  de  I'Amerique  battant  a  I'unisson  des  votres, 
ont  pu  aborder  sur  vos  rives  amies. 


28 

De  tous  ces  messages,  je  commencerai  par  citer  celui  du  Dr  Nicholas 
Murray  Butler,  President  de  la  grande  Universite  Columbia,  a  New- York, 
ou  depuis  des  annees,  vos  conferenciers  et  vos  professeurs  ont  regu  I'accueil 
le  plus  chaleureux: 

Je  suis  tres  heureux  que  vous  puissiez  faire  ce  voyage,  non 
seulement  pour  observer  les  repercussions  de  la  guerre  sur  I'en- 
seignement  dans  la  Republique  Francaise,  mais  aussi  pour  trans- 
mettre  en  personne  et  de  la  maniere  la  plus  intime,  le  salut  affec- 
tueux  de  nous  tous  a  ce  noble  corps  des  savants  et  des  educateurs 
qui  est  la  fleur  meme  de  la  France,  et  par  consequent  de  la  civili- 
sation moderne.  Vous  ne  sauriez  aller  trop  loin,  ni  vous  etendre 
trop  longuement,  pour  exprimer  a  nos  amis  et  collegues  de  la-bas 
la  profonde  admiration  que  nous  avons  pour  I'esprit  francais  et 
pour  la  facon  dont  il  se  manifeste  dans  cette  terrible  crise  de 
I'histoire  universelle." 

Autant  que  possible,  je  presenterai  ces  messages  dans  I'ordre  geograph- 
ique,  en  commengant  par  I'fitat  du  Maine,  dont  les  cotes  furent  explorees 
par  Champlain  bien  avant  le  debarquement  des  premiers  colons  anglais  sur 
les  rivages  arides  et  semes  de  recifs  de  la  Nouvelle-Angleterre.  Le  pre- 
mier est  celui  du  President  de  I'Universite  de  I'Etat,  qui  est  aussi  president 
de  la  grande  societe  composee  des  membres  du  corps  enseignant  de  tous  les 
Etats  de  rUnion:  "  L' Association  Nationale  d'Enseignement  aux  £tats- 
Unis." 

"  Veuillez  transmettre  aux  professeurs  des  universites  de 
France  les  salutations  cordiales  des  etudiants,  anciens  eleves,  pro- 
fesseurs et  membres  du  conseil  d'administration  de  I'Universite  du 
Maine.  Nous  les  glorifions  pour  les  sacrifices  qu'ils  ont  faits. 
Nous  sommes  maintenant  unis  avec  les  universites  fran^aises  pour 
prendre  notre  part  de  tous  les  nouveaux  sacrifices  qui  seront 
necessaires  pour  assurer  une  paix  glorieuse  et  permanente. 

Les  ecoliers  et  les  instituteurs  des  £tats-Unis  envoient  a  la 
France  I'expression  de  leur  admiration  et  de  leur  foi  profonde 
dans  I'avenir." 

Robert  J.  Aley 
President  de  V Association  Nationale  d'Enseignement, 
Recteur  de  I'Universite  du  Maine 


29 


Void  la  lettre  d'un  college  de  cet  Etat  d'ou  sont  sortis  des  citoyens 
eminents  qui  ont  joue  un  grand  role  dans  notre  histoire: 

"  Nous,  corps  enseignant  et  eleves  du  College  Bowdoin,  nous 
rejouissons  de  Toccasion  qui  nous  est  offerte,  d'exprimer  par  vos 
bons  offices,  a  nos  soeurs  les  ecoles  et  les  universites  de  France, 
notre  reconnaissance  et  notre  admiration  constante  pour  les  nobles 
sacrifices  qu'elles  font  pour  la  cause  commune,  celle  de  la  demo- 
cratic et  de  la  liberte  dans  le  monde  entier.  Ce  matin  meme, 
dans  notre  chapelle,  Mme  la  baronne  Huart  nous  parlait  de 
rheroi'sme  de  la  France. 

Les  etudiants  de  notre  college  se  preparent  activement  au 
service  militaire,  et,  avant  longtemps,  ils  prendront  place  au  front, 
cote  a  cote,  avec  les  jeunes  gens  des  ecoles  et  des  universites  de 

France." 

Wm.  Dewitt  Hyde 

Le  corps  enseignant  et  les  eleves  du  Bates  College  ecrivent: 

"  Les  professeurs  et  les  eleves  du  Bates  College  n'ont  cesse  de 
suivre  avec  le  plus  profond  interet  les  diverses  fortunes  du  vaillant 
peuple  de  France  au  cours  de  la  lutte  terrible  qui  se  livre  en 
Europe.  La  France  a  donne  a  tous  les  esprit  eclaires,  un 
exemple  si  extraordinaire  de  sagesse,  de  patience,  de  sentiment  du 
devoir,  de  devouement,  de  patriotisme,  d'heroisme  et  d'abnega- 
tion,  que  les  merveilleuses  pages  de  son  histoire  en  sont  illuminees 
d'un  eclat  nouveau,  et  que  les  aspirations  et  les  ideals  du  monde 
civilise  en  recoivent  une  vie  nouvelle.  Nous  savons  que,  malgre 
leurs  privations,  leurs  souffrances  et  leurs  deuils,  les  Fran^ais,  a 
quelque  classe  ou  condition  qu'ils  appartiennent,  sont  en  train 
d'acquerir  pour  eux-memes  et  pour  toute  I'Humanite  eprise  de 
liberte,  avec  une  independance  plus  complete,  une  realisation 
plus  belle  de  I'ideal  democratique.  Nos  sympathies  vont  tout 
droit  aux  professeurs,  a  la  jeunesse  et  aux  enfants  de  France. 
Nous  esperons  qu'ils  supporteront  jusqu'au  bout  les  lourdes 
charges  qui  leur  sont  imposees,  afin  de  trouver,  a  la  fin  de  cette 
terrible  lutte,  le  champ  libre  a  leur  influence  et  a  leur  action  sur 


30 


la  vie  morale  et  intellectuelle  du  monde,  et  des  conditions  infini- 
ment  plus  favorables  a  leur  developpement  que  les  plus  braves  et 
les  plus  optimistes  d'entre  eux  n'oseraient  esperer." 

George  C,  Chase 

President 

A  cote  du  Maine  s'etend  un  £tat  dont  la  chaine  de  montagnes  boisees 
comprend,  parmi  ses  sommets  aux  nobles  et  puissantes  lignes,  le  mont  Wash- 
ington et  le  mont  Lafayette.  Le  principal  etablissement  d'education  de  cat 
Etat  est  un  des  etablissements  historiques  de  la  Nouvelle-Angleterre,  le 
College  Dartmouth,  ou  notre  grand  Daniel  Webster  fut  eleve.  Voici  le 
message  qui  nous  est  envoye  par  son  President: 

"  Ce  college,  qui  compte  quinze  cents  etudiants,  se  prepare 
activement  a  I'heure  actuelle,  a  remplir  ses  obligations  envers  la 
cause  commune,  c'est-a-dire,  a  maintenir  I'ideal  democratique, 
pcU-  la  force  des  armes,  a  n'importe  quel  prix,  tant  en  hommes 
qu'en  argent.  Dans  le  couraint  de  la  semaine,  quarante-quatre 
de  nos  eleves  vont  s'embarquer  pour  aller  servir  sur  le  front  fran- 
gais  dans  le  corps  des  ambulanciers  americains. 

Presque  sans  exception  tous  nos  jeunes  gens  subissent  un 
entrainement  assidu  pour  faire  face  aux  besoins  de  la  cause  a 
laquelle  les  £tats-Unis  ont  donne  toute  leur  adhesion. 

Nous  adressons  I'expression  de  notre  admiration  a  tous  les 
membres  des  universites  frangaises,  a  la  grande  Republique  scEur, 
a  tous  ces  hommes  qui  I'ont  si  vaillamment  et  si  efficacement 
def  endue." 

Ernest  Martin  Hopkins 

President 

De  r£tat  du  Vermont,  lequel  porte  fierement  un  nom  d'origine  fran^aise, 
me  sont  parvenus  deux  messages  de  ses  deux  principaux  etablissements 
d'education.  Le  President  de  I'Universite  de  I'Etat  qui  preside  aussi  la 
"  Federation  des  universites  des  £tats-Unis  ",  accompagne  sa  lettre  d'une 
photographic  de  la  statue  de  La  Fayette,  erigee  devant  le  principal  corps 
de  batiment  de  I'Universite: 

"  Je  vous  prie  de  porter  aux  principaux  educateurs  de  la 
Republique   soeur   le   salut   des   etablissements   d'education   de 


31 


rAssociation  Nationale  de  la  Federation  des  universites.  Je 
serai  egalement  tres  heureux  que  vdus  leur  apportiez  I'expression 
des  sentiments  affectueux  et  de  bonne  camaraderie  du  President, 
du  corps  enseignant  des  etudiants,  ainsi  que  de  tous  les  services  de 
rUniversite  du  Vermont  et  de  I'ecole  d'agriculture  de  I'ttat. 

"  La  dette  des  £tats-Unis  envers  la  France  est  une  de  celles 
dont  nous  ne  pourrons  jamais  nous  acquitter  entierement.  Nous 
sommes  heureux  d'etre  les  Allies  de  ce  vaillant  peuple  dans  la 
lutte  pour  I'etablissement  de  la  democratic  universelle.  L'Uni- 
versite  du  Vermont  a  toujours  entretenu  des  sentiments  de  par- 
ticuliere  affection  a  I'egard  de  la  France,  car  ce  fut  un  heros 
frangais  que  nous  considerons  comme  un  des  notres,  le  marquis 
de  La  Fayette,  qui  posa  la  premiere  pierre  du  principal  corps  de 
batiment  de  I'universite,  lequel  fut  malheureusement  detruit  par 
un  incendie  a  la  suite  de  la  guerre  de  1 8 1 2.  La  plus  belle  statue 
du  general  La  Fayette  que  nous  ayons  aux  £tats-Unis,  ceuvre 
de  J.  Q.  A.  Ward,  est  le  principal  ornement  de  notre  Universite. 
Je  joins  a  ma  lettre  une  photographic  de  cette  statue  dediee  a 
M.  le  ministre  de  I'lnstruction  publique. 

Guy  Potter  Benton 

President  de  VAssociation  Nationale 

des  Universites  d'Etat, 

President  de  V  Universite  du   Vermont, 

Directeur  de  VEcole  d' Agriculture  de  VEtat. 

Le  President  du  College  de  Middlebury  servait  I'ete  dernier  comme 
aumonier  dans  Tun  de  nos  regiments  sur  la  frontiere  mexicaine.  J'aime  a 
penser  qu'il  pourra  venir  en  France  avec  le  contingent  americain.  Voici 
son  message: 

"  Le  corps  enseignant  et  les  etudiants  du  college  de  Middlebury, 
dans  I'Etat  du  Vermont,  desirent  envoyer  leur  salut  le  plus 
cordial  et  le  plus  sympathique  aux  professeurs  et  aux  eleves  des 
universites  de  la  Republique  Frangaise.  L'£tat  du  Vermont  a 
rcQU  son  nom  du  grand  explorateur  frangais  et  pionnier  du  chris- 
tianisme,  Samuel  Champlain,  qui  fut  le  premier  homme  blanc  a 
contempler  nos  belles  collines  verdoyantes.      Notre  capitale  porte 


32 


un  nom  egalement  lionore  en  France,  Montpellier.  Depuis  le 
premier  et  effrayant  choc  de  cette  guerre  terrible,  nos  coeurs  n'ont 
cesse  de  battre  avec  une  chaude  sympathie  pour  la  France. 
Maintenant,  nous  nous  rejouissons  d'etre  appeles  a  partager  les 
sacrifices  des  membres  des  universites.  Nous  attendons  avec 
impatience  le  jour  ou  nous  serons  trouves  dignes  de  combattre  a 
cote  d'eux,  et  nous  participerons  avec  joie  a  leurs  souffrances, 
esperant  ainsi  partager  la  gloire  dont  les  membres  des  universites 
francaises  se  sont  couverts  dans  leur  lutte  heroique  pour  assurer 
I'etablissement  de  la  democratie  dans  le  monde." 

John  M.  Thomas 

President 

L'£tat  du  Massachusetts  a  magnifiquement  manifeste  son  amour  pour  la 
France  et  il  n'y  a  pas  un  etablissement  d'education  en  Amerique  qui  ait 
fait  plus  que  i'Universite  Harvard,  Animee  par  I'ardente  sympathie  que 
son  President  eprouve  pour  votre  pays,  elle  envoie  ses  professeurs  dans  vos 
universites  et  ses  eleves  et  ancieris  eleves  dans  votre  armee.  Void  son 
message : 

*'  Veuillez  porter  aux  universites  de  France,  nos  soeurs,  les 
salutations  les  plus  chaleureuses  de  TUniversite  Harvard.  Nous 
commencons  seulement  a  faire  ce  qu'elles  font  depuis  deja  trois 
ans:  nous  envoyons  nos  jeunes  gens  prendre  part  a  la  grande  lutte 
pour  la  cause  de  la  civilisation  et  de  I'humanite." 

A.  Lawrence  Lowell 

President 

Les  autres  institutions  d'education  du  Massachusetts  se  sont  montrees 
aussi  empressees  a  manifester  leur  sympathie.  Je  ne  puis  citer  que  des 
extraits  des  nombreuses  adresses  regues: 

De  I'Universite  Clark: 

"  Non  seulement  I'Histoire  americaine,  mais  aussi  la  Science 
americaine  ont  contracte  une  dette  immense  vis-a-vis  de  la 
France." 

G.  Stanley  Hall 

President 


33 

Du  College  d' Amherst: 

"  Nous,  qui  dans  les  colleges  americains,  cherchons  a  demon- 
Irer  d'une  iaqon  tangible  et  pratique  a  une  democratie  encore 
naissante  I'art  de  se  conduire  par  les  idees,  nous  rendons  hom- 
mage  a  la  nation  qui,  plus  que  toute  autre  nation  moderne,  a  su 
garder  intacte  sa  foi  dans  la  suprematie  de  I'intelligence  comme 
guide  de  la  vie." 

Alexander  Meiklejohn 

President 

Le  corps  enseignant,  le  conseil  d'admlnistration  et  les  eleves  de 
VUniversite  de  Boston  envoient  un  message  officiel  exprimant  leur  espoir  de 
voir  se  developper  des  relations  plus  etroites  entre  les  deux  peuples,  et 
rappellent  le  mouvement  dirigedans  ce  sens  par  une  centaine  d'universitaires 
sous  la  direction  du  Dr  Wigmore,  mouvement  en  faveur  duquel  le  ministre 
de  rinstruction  publique,  M.  Steeg,  a  deja  manifeste  son  approbation. 
(Dr  Wigmore,  doyen  de  la  Nortwestern  Faculte  de  Droit  et  doyen  de 
VUniversite  de  Boston  est  aussi  le  President  du  comite  des  Cent  pour 
retablissem.ent  de  bourses  d'eleves  americains  dans  les  universites 
fran^aises.) 

Le  College  Tufts  s'exprime  en  ces  termes: 

"  Un  grand  nombre  des  notres,  ainsi  que  la  plupart  d'entre 
vous,  ont  offert  leurs  services  a  leur  pays  et  se  tiennent  prets  a 
faire  tout  ce  que  leur  gouvernement  voudra  leur  demander. 
Maintenant  que  les  deux  Republiques  de  France  et  des  Etats- 
Unis  sont  unies  dans  la  cause  commune  pour  la  liberte,  la  fra- 
ternite  et  I'etablissement  dune  paix  durable  entre  toutes  les 
nations,  nous  sommes  inspires  non  seulement  par  votre  merveilleux 
exemple,  mais  aussi  par  la  reconnaissance  pour  les  services  que 
nous  a  rendus  autrefois  votre  pays,  en  aidant  nos  ancetres  a  con- 
querir  la  liberte  dont  nous  jouissons  depuis  si  longtemps. 

Toute  votre  jeunesse  des  Arts,  des  Lettres  et  des  Sciences  a 
apporte  a  la  France  le  coneours  de  son  effort.  Nulle  nation  ne 
pouvait  offrir  de  plus  riches  qualites  de  courage,  de  force  d'ame 
et  de  puissance  que  la  votre.  C'est  de  grand  coeur  que  nous 
vous  offrons  aujourd'hui  le  coneours  de  nos  bras.     Nous  voulons 


34 

prendre  part  a  vos  luttes  et  a  vos  sacrifices,  et  partager  avec  vous 
la  gloire  du  triomphe." 

Le  recteur  du  College  Williams,  M.  H.  A.  Garfield,  fils  de  I'un  des 
anciens  Presidents  des  £tats-Unis,  exprime  "  les  sentiments  de  tous  "  en 
adressant  son  cordial  salut  et  en  affirmant  sa  foi  absolue  dans  la  victoire. 
II  parle  des  deux  freres  Cru,  etudiants  de  Williams,  qui  sont  maintenant 
sur  le  front.  D'ailleurs,  son  propre  fils  vient  de  s'engager  dans  le  service 
des  ambulances  au  front. 

Le  directeur  de  I'lnstitut  Polytechnique  de  Worcester,  M.  Ira  Hollis, 
un  grand  savant,  apres  avoir  declare  que: 

"  Les  Francais  ont  eu  a  supporter  la  plus  lourde  charge  de  ja 
lutte  pour  le  triomphe  de  la  civilisation  et  de  la  liberte  du  genre 
humain  ",  adresse  ses  souhaits  les  plus  chaleureux  aux  ecoles 
francaises,  et  en  particulier  aux  etablissements  "  qui  enseignent  a 
la  jeunesse  les  sciences  appliquees." 

Des  messages  ont  ete  egalement  envoyes  par  les  colleges  de  jeunes  filles 
du  Massachusetts.     Voici  celui  du  fameux  College  Wellesley: 

"Au  cours  de  cette  terrible  lutte,  un  profond  sentiment  de 
camaraderie  et  d'amitie  pour  les  Allies  et  en  particulier  pour  la 
France,  s'est  developpe  dans  nos  coeurs.  J'ai  ete  surprise  et 
heureuse  de  constater  avec  quelle  spontaneite  nos  etudiantes  ont 
repondu  a  toutes  les  demandes  de  secours,  et  surtout  a  celles  qui 
venaient  de  France." 

Ellen  J.  Pendleton 

Directrice 

Les  professeurs  du  non  moins  connu_College  Smith  se  sont  prononces 
pour  I'envoi  d'un  message  de  chaleuses  felicitations,  et  le  principal  du 
college  ajoute: 

"  Permettez-moi  de  vous  assurer  qu'il  s'agit  la  dun  geste  dont 
la  valeur  depasse  celle  d'une  simple  formalite.  Dans  ce  college, 
nous  sommes  tous  parfaitement  d'accord  avec  la  France,  nous 
adherons  a  la  cause  qu'elle  soutient  et  nous  apprecions  le  service 
que  vous  nous  rendez  en  transmettant  aux  universites  francaises 
le  message  des  eleves,  du  corps  enseignant  et  du  President  de  ce 


35 

college,  message  qui  exprimera  avec  notre  amitic,  notre  enthousi- 
asme  pour  les  principes  que  ia  France  represente  et  notre  confiance 
dans  son  triomphe." 

M.  L.  Burton 

President 

Le  College  Simmons  ecnt: 

"  Nous  avons  ete  profondement  emus  de  la  valeur  deploy ee 
et  des  souffrances  endurees  par  les  soldats  de  France,  dont  beau- 
coup  sont  des  savants  et  des  professeurs.  L'entrain  et  la  magna- 
nimite  avec  lesquels  tous  les  Francais,  quelle  que  soit  leur  situa- 
tion dans  la  vie,  ont  supporte  le  fardeau  de  la  guerre,  sont  pour 
nous  un  sujet  de  constante  inspiration.  Beaucoup  d'entre  nous 
ont  voyage  en  France,  quelques-uns  ont  suivi  des  cours  dans  les 
universites  frangaises,  et  nous  avons  tous  beneficie,  de  cent  facons 
differentes,  de  I'erudition  francaise.  Aucun  Americain  ne  saurait 
oublier  les  souvenirs  qui,  au  cours  de  toute  notre  Histoire,  unissent 
notre  pays  au  leur.  Nous  profitons  du  moment  ou  notre  pays 
entre  en  guerre  aux  cotes  de  la  France  et  de  ses  Allies,  pour  la 
cause  de  la  liberie  et  de  la  democratic,  pour  transmettre  a  nos 
camarades  frangais,  Texpression  la  plus  sincere  de  notre  bonne 
amitie,  de  notre  reconnaissance  et  de  notre  admiration." 

Henry  Lefavour 

President 

Les  professeurs  et  les  eleves  du  college  du  Mounl  Hol3'oke  ont  envoye 
ce  message,  superbement  grave: 

"  Nous,  etudiants  et  professeurs  du  college  du  Mount 
Holyoke,  tendons  fraternellement  les  mains  vers  les  universites, 
les  lycees  et  les  ecoles  de  France,  a  cette  heure  critique  que  la 
Republique  Francaise  et  celle  des  Etats-Unis  traversent  en  ce 
moment. 

Dans  I'espoir  que  les  relations  amicales  etablies  jadis  entre  les 
deux  pays,  ainsi  que  les  relations  d'amitie  qui  existent  aujourd'hui, 
pourront  servir  a  developper  a  un  degre  inconnu  jusqu'ici  I'espril 
democratique  et  les  aspirations  vers  I'ideal,  et,  constatant  encore 


36 

une  fois,  a  la  suite  de  la  recente  revolution  russe,  I'importance  des 
ecoles  dans  I'orientation  de  la  vie  publique  vers  un  ideal  demo- 
cratique,  nous  nous  engageons  a  travailler  d'accord  avec  les 
etablissements  d'education  en  France  a  Tavenement  du  regne  de 
fraternite  qui  devra  recevoir  la  consecration  du  monde." 

L'Universite  Brown: 

L'Etat  de  Rhode  Island  est  represente  par  un  eloquent  message  du 
diiecteur  de  Brown,  que  je  reproduis  en  partie: 

"  Notre  universite,  situee  a  Providence,  Etat  de  Rhode  Island, 
a  des  raisons  toutes  particulieres  d'etre  profondement  reconnais- 
sante  a  Theroisme  et  a  la  culture  de  la  France.  C'est  a  trente 
milles  d'ici,  que  six  mille  soldats  fran^ais  ont  debarque  sous  la 
conduite  de  Rochambeau,  pour  porter  secours  a  notre  pays  pend- 
ant notre  guerre  d'Independance;  dans  le  voisinage  de  notre 
universite,  une  avenue,  I'avenue  Rochambeau,  nous  rappelle 
encore  1' emplacement  ou  ces  troupes  ont  campe;  la  plus  ancienne 
partie  des  batiments  de  I'Universite  a  ete  occupee,  pendant  six 
ans,  par  les  troupes  frangaises  et  americaines. 

II  y  a  presque  deux  ans,  I'un  de  nos  professeurs,  le  lieutenant 
frangais  Henri  F.  Micoleau,  repondant  a  I'appel  de  son  pays 
natal,  a  trouve,  dans  quelque  coin  ignore  de  la  terre  de  France, 
une  mort  glorieuse. 

Maintenant  que  nous  sommes  devenus  vos  compagnons  d'armes 
nous  nous  rendons  compte  que  vos  problemes  sont  aussi  devenus 
les  notres.  Nous  devons  aussi  veiller  a  ce  que  le  flambeau  de 
I'education  ne  s'eteigne  pas  dans  la  tourmente  de  cette  guerre,  et  il 
nous  faut  aussi  entrainer  ceux  qui  doivent  prendre  la  place  de  vos 
soldats  tombes." 

W.  H.  P.  Faunce 

President 

Universite  Yale: 

Apres  metre  entendu  avec  les  corps  enseignants  des  differentes  ecoles  qui 
composent  cette  florissante  Universite,  j'ai  regu  de  son  president  le  message 
suivant,  qui  peut,  pour  le  moment,  etre  considere  comme  I'expression  des 


37 

sentiments  de  I'Etat  du  Connecticut,  las  adresses  des  autres  etablissements 
d'instruction  de  cet  £tat  ne  m'etant  pas  encore  parvenues: 

"Au  nom  des  membres  du  corps  enseignant,  des  etudiants  et 
des  eleves  diplomes  de  I'universite,  je  vous  prie  de  transmettre 
I'expression  de  notre  attachement  aux  nombreuses  universites  et 
aux  colleges  de  France  que  vous  pourrez  visiter.  Nous  sommes 
tres  heureux  de  profiler  de  cette  occasion  pour  leur  exprimer  notre 
profonde  sympathie  pour  les  souffrances  qu'ils  ont  endurees  et  de 
les  feliciter  aussi  pour  ce  qu'ils  ont  accompli." 

Arthur  Twining  Hadley 

President 
L'ETAT  DE  NEW- YORK 

Pius  de  trente  etablissements  superieurs  d'education  de  I'fitat  de  New- 
York,  y  compris  toutes  les  universites  et  tous  les  colleges  autant  publics  que 
prives,  ont  envoye  des  messages  pleins  d'enthousiasme  a  la  France,  "  porte- 
flambeau  de  la  lumiere  intellectuelle,  de  la  beaute,  de  la  civilisation  ", 
ainsi  que  I'appelle  le  doyen  du  college  de  jeunes  filles  Barnard.  Je  ne 
puis  en  citer  que  deux:  voici  d'abord  le  message  specialement  adresse  par 
le  College  de  la  ville  de  New-York  au  President  Poincare,  a  I'occasion  du 
**  France  Day  ",  lequel  a  ete  observe  dun  bout  a  I'autre  de  I'Etat,  comme 
je  I'ai  dit  plus  haut.  J'ai  eu  I'honneur  d'assister  a  cette  imposante  reunion 
de  trois  mille  professeurs,  anciens  eleves  et  etudiants,  et  le  plaisir  de  con- 
stater  I'unanimite,  dans  cette  manifestation,  de  sympathie  pour  la  France. 

"  Le  College  de  la  Ville  de  New-York,  reuni  en  assemblee 
generale  a  I'occasion  du  "  France  Day  ",  envoie  son  salut  cordial^ 
a  la  France,  et  s'engage  a  cooperer  sans  restrictions  a  la  lutte 
universelle  pour  le  triomphe  de  la  democratie,  de  rhumanite  et  du 
droit." 

Voici  le  message  de  I'Universite  de  TUnion: 

"  Notre  amitie  pour  vous  date  deja  de  longtemps.  II  y  a 
plus  d'un  siecle,  un  de  vos  compatriotes,  Joseph-Jacques  Ramee, 
dessina  les  plans  de  notre  college.  L'onginal  de  ces  plans  est 
maintenant  expose  dans  le  bureau  du  president. 

"  Le  College  de  I'Union  a  ete  le  premier  college  en  Amerique 
a  permettre,  dans  le  programme  de  ses  cours,  de  remplacer  des 


38 

langues  anciennes  par  la  langue  francaise;  le  vieux  sceau  du 
college  porte,  avec  la  tete  de  Minerve,  linscription  en  frangais: 
'  Sous  les  lois  de  Minerve  nous  devenons  tous  freres.'  " 

"  Cette  devise  merite  d'etre  prise  comme  texte  de  notre  mes- 
sage. Freres  sous  les  lois  de  Minerve,  nous  sommes  unis  par  des 
liens  encore  plus  etroits  sous  les  lois  de  la  liberte  et  de  la  fra- 
ternite.  Comme  freres,  nous  vous  saluons,  comme  freres,  nous 
accueillons  avec  joie  I'occasion  qui  nous  est  offerte  de  lutter  a 
vos  cotes,  de  nous  sacrifier  aussi  a  cette  noble  cause  pour  laquelle 
vos  meilleurs  et  vos  plus  braves  fils  sont  deja  tombes.  Nous 
voulons  nous  joindre  a  vous  pour  glorifier  ceux  qui  ont  paye  de 
ieur  vie  leur  dette  a  la  patrie,  et  nous  vous  garantissons  notre  aide 
jusqu'au  bout.  Nous  enverrons  nos  fils  combattre  a  cote  des 
votres,  dans  cette  lutte  supreme  pour  la  liberte  de  la  France, 
de  TAmerique  et  du  monde  entier.  Et  le  jour  de  la  victoire 
finale,  qui  surement  viendra,  nous  verrons  flotter  glorieusement 
ensemble  les  trois  couleurs  de  la  France  et  la  banniere  etoilee  de 
1  Amerique." 

Charles  Alexander  Richmond 

Presidenl 

Universite  de  Princeton: 

Le  message  de  i'Universite  de  Princeton,  dans  i'Etat  de  New-Jersey, 
contient  le  programme  de  ce  que  compte  faire  cette  universite  sous  la 
direction  de  son  president,  le  Docteur  Hibben,  non  seulement  pour  assurer 
un  avenir  plus  liberal  a  I'enseignement  superieur,  mais  encore  pour 
preparer  ses  eleves  a  servir  leur  pays  d'une  maniere  plus  efficace. 

Le  President  Hibben  est  venu  accompagner  au  bateau  sur  lequei  je  me 
suis  embarque  a  New- York,  une  vingtaine  de  ses  eleves  qui  venaient  servir 
de  ce  cote  de  {'ocean,  et  il  adresse  son  cordial  salut  au  monde  de  I'enseigne- 
ment en  France: 

"  Nous  sommes  profondement  emus  par  la  patience,  le  courage 
et  I'invincible  esperance  de  votre  grande  nation  et  nous  sommes 
tres  fiers  que  vous  nous  consideriez  comme  des  Allies.  C'est 
notre  grande  esperance  et  notre  fervente  priere  que  les  jeunes 
gens  et  les  jeunes  filles  de  notre  nouvelle  generation  puissent 
s'inspirer  des  grandes  actions  du  present  pour  un  haut  ideal  de 


39 

pensee  et  d' action  de  facon  a  ce  qu'ils  puissent  faire  noblement 
face  aux  epreuves  que  la  vie  leur  reserve,  avec  force  et  courage." 

L'Institut  Stevens  et  le  College  Rutgers,  de  se  meme  £tat,  vous  envoient 
leurs  messages  de  felicitations. 

ETAT  DE  PENNSYLVANIE 

D'un  bout  a  I'autre  de  I'Stat  de  Pensylvanie,  aussi  bien  du  cote  de 
I'Est,  ou  le  College  La  Fayette  perpetue  le  souvenir  du  grand  ami  de 
Washington,  que  du  cote  oppose  ou  la  ville  de  Pittsburg  conserve  intact 
remplacement  ou  s'elevait  le  fort  Duquesne,  les  universites  et  les  colleges 
les  plus  marquants  ont,  sans  exception,  envoye  des  messages  de  sympathie 
et  d'admiration :  le  College  La  Fayette,  I'Universite  de  Pensylvanie,  les 
Colleges  Wilson,  Dickinson,  Bryn-Mawr,  I'Universite  de  Lehigh,  I'lnstitut 
Carnegie,  I'Universite  de  Pittburg  ainsi  que  le  College  d' Allegheny  ou 
Ton  rencontrerait,  si  Ton  remontait  dans  I'histoire,  la  figure  de  Celeron 
allant  du  lac  Erie  a  I'Ohio,  et  laissant  au  cours  de  sa  longue  route  des 
marques  de  son  passage.  Ce  m'est  un  grand  regret  de  n'avoir  de  place  ici 
que  pour  deux  ou  trois  de  ces  messages. 

College  La  Fayette: 

"  Les  membres  du  corps  enseignant  et  les  etudiants  du  College 
La  Fayette  s'empressent  de  propter  de  I'occasion  qui  leur  est 
offerte  par  la  visite  de  M.  Finley  aux  universites  et  aux  ecoles  de 
France  pour  envoyer  un  salut  fraternel  aux  etudiants  et  aux  pro- 
fesseurs  de  la  grande  nation  qui  apporta  a  I'Amerique  le  precieux 
secours  de  I'immortel  La  Fayette  et  qui  donna  a  notre  College, 
fonde  en  I'honneur  de  ce  dernier,  I'inspiration  imperissable  et 
I'autorite  de  ce  grand  nom. 

"  Nous  avons  suivi  avec  une  admiration  enthousiaste  votre 
heroique  defense  de  la  belle  terre  de  France  et  de  son  glorieux 
passe.  Nous  avons  ete  emerveilles  a  la  vue  de  la  manifestation 
de  cet  esprit  sublime  avec  lequel  vous  vous  etes  mis  au  service  de 
la  nation,  esprit  bien  digne  de  la  tache  qui  vous  etait  imposee,  et 
qui,  chaque  jour,  s'est  manifeste  de  plus  en  plus  confiant,  de  plus 
en  plus  fecond  en  ressources. 

"  Nous  nous  estimons  heureux  de  pouvoir  entrer  dans  la  lutte 
pour  la  cause  de  la  liberte,  comme  allies  d'un  peuple  si  vaillant 
et  doue  d'un  esprit  si  noble.     Cette  necessite  de  defendre  nos 


40 

droits  contre  un  ennemi  commun  a  resserre  encore  les  liens  qui 
nous  unissaient,  et  lorsque  notre  victoire  aura  retabli  la  paix,  nous 
esperons  que  les  Americains  chercheront  de  plus  en  plus  a 
s'instruire  dans  les  universites  francaises,  et  que  nous,  membres 
de  I'enseignement  et  universitaires,  resterons  unis  dans  la  grande 
et  eternelle  lutte  pour  le  triomphe  de  la  liberte  liberatrice." 

John  H.  Mac  Cracken 

President 

Le  College  Haverford  a  manifeste  ainsi  ses  sentiments: 
*'  Le  President  et  les  membres  du  corps  enseignant  du  College 
Haverford,  etablissement  fonde  par  les  propres  disciples  de 
William  Penn,  pres  de  la  ville  de  1'  'Amour  fraternel  ',  envoient 
aux  universites  et  aux  colleges  de  France  leur  plus  cordial  salut 
ainsi  que  I'expression  de  leur  sympathie  pour  les  souffrances  et 
les  privations  qu'ils  ont  si  noblement  supportees  pour  ce  commun 
amour  de  la  liberte  et  de  la  tolerance  que  nous  partageons,  salut 
d'admiration  pour  le  patriotisme  heroique  qu'ils  ont  partage  avec 
tous  les  autres  enfants  de  la  France,  salut  de  gratitude  pour  cette 
devotion  dont  le  m.onde  de  i'enseignement  en  France  a  toujours 
fait  preuve  pour  la  cause  de  la  raison  et  de  la  verite." 

J'ai  recu  de  TUniversitd  de  Pennsylvanie  ce  message: 
"  Nos  etudiants,  qui  sont  plus  de  neuf  mille,  nous  viennent  de 
tous  les  Etats  de  notre  pays.  Tous  sympathisent  profondement 
avec  vous,  et  nous  vous  assurons  que  nous  serons  heureux  de 
cooperer  avec  vous  par  tous  les  moyens  possibles.  Nous  sou- 
haitons  que  la  paix  ne  se  fasse  pas  longtemps  attendre  et  que  la 
France  puisse  de  nouveau  exercer  son  entiere  activite  dans  toutes 
les  branches  de  I'education." 

Edgar  F.  Smith 

Provost 

Voici  ce  qu'a  ecrit  I'lnstitut  Carnegie  de  Technologie: 
"  II  est  de  circonstance  que  I'lnstitut  de  Technologie   (fonde 
par  un  homme  qui,  dans  sa  jeunesse,  servit  son  pays  en  faisant  la 
guerre,  et  plus  tard,  fit  beaucoup  pour  la  cause  de  la  paix)^ 


41 

envoie  son  salut  a  la  France,  qui  fait  de  tels  sacrifices  pour  la 
cause  de  I'humanite.  Pour  nous  autres,  a  Pittsburgh,  la  France 
a  une  signification  d'autant  plus  grande  que  nous  vivons  sur 
I'emplacement  du  premier  etablissement  francais  important  de 
Pensylvanie :  le  Fort  Duquesne.  Mais  la  dette  de  notre  Institut 
envers  la  France  est  particuliere  et  intime:  I'Ecole  des  Beaux- 
Arts  de  rinstitut  Carnegie  de  Technologic  a  ete  organisee  par 
un  homme  qui  etudia  a  I'Elcole  des  Beaux-Arts  de  Paris,  et  c'est 
a  I'mspiration  qu'il  recut  de  vos  ecoles  nationales  qu'est  due  une 
bonne  part  du  succes  obtenu.  Nous  avons  observe  avec  une 
admiration  sans  cesse  croissante  qu'au  milieu  de  votre  lutte 
gigantesque  vous  n'avez  pas  un  instant  neglige  la  cause  de  I'edu- 
cation.  Prives,  depuis  ces  derniers  temps,  de  I'inestimable  privi- 
lege accorde  a  notre  jeunesse  de  pouvon-  contmuer  ses  etudes 
dans  vos  etablissements  scolaires,  nous  nous  rendons  mieux 
compte,  de  nos  besoins  et  de  tout  ce  dont  nous  vous  sommes 
redevables,  et  nous  attendons  patiemment  le  jour,  et  nous  sommes 
convaincus  qu'il  est  proche,  ou  nous  pourrons  de  nouveau  jouir  de 
la  genereuse  hospitalite  que  la  nation  francaise  a  toujours  offerte 
a  nos  etudiants.  C'est  avec  un  vif  sentiment  de  satisfaction  que 
nous  nous  sentons  aujourd'hui  unis  a  vous  dans  cette  lutte. 

"  Pendant  que  nous  redigeons  ce  message,  sept  cents  de  nos 
etudiants,  devancant  I'appel  sous  les  drapeaux  apprennent  leur 
metier  de  soldats.  Nos  etudiants  aussi  se  sont  deja  prepares  a 
accomplir  la  tache  qui  leur  est  reservee. 

"  De  meme  que  nous  suivons  votre  ideal  en  matiere  d'instruc- 
tion  et  de  culture,  nous  nous  efforcons  aussi  de  suivre  votre  ideal 
en  matiere  de  patriotisme  et  de  devouement  au  pays.  Nous 
saisissons  avec  empressement  I'occasion  qui  nous  est  offerte  de 
vous  adresser  ce  message." 

REGION  DU  SUD 
Si  Ton  descend  vers  le  sud,  suivant  le  chemin  parcouru  par  La  Fayette 
pour  se  rendre  a  Philadelphie,  apres  son  debarquement  dans  la  Caroline 
du  Sud,  on  n'entend  le  long  de  cette  longue  route  que  des  paroles  d'affection 
et  d'admiration  pour  la  France. 


42 

A  Baltimore,  c'est  TUniversite  du  Maryland  et  la  fameuse  Universite 
Johns  Hopkins  dont  le  President,  un  savant  double  d'un  grand  adminis- 
trateur,  le  Dr  J.  Goodnow,  ecrit  ce  qui  suit: 

"  Tous  les  membres  des  universites  travaillent  en  commun  pour 
I'avancement  des  sciences  et  pour  la  diffusion  des  connaissances. 
Nous  avons  pourtant  le  sentiment  dans  ce  pays-ci,  en  ce  moment, 
que  nous  autres,  universitaires  americains,  nous  sommes  attaches 
aux  universites  de  France  par  des  liens  plus  etroits  que  les  liens 
ordinaires.  Ayant  les  memes  sentiments  que  vous  touchant 
I'ideal  democratique,  nous  ne  pourrions  faire  autrement  que 
de  reconnaitre  la  dette  de  gratitude  que  nous  avons  contractee 
envers  la  France  pour  la  resistance  superbe  qu'elle  a  su  opposer 
aux  ennemis  du  gouvernement  du  peuple  par  luimeme.  Nous 
esperons,  maintenant  que  nous  sommes  engages  dans  ce  conflit 
coude  a  coude  avec  la  France,  pouvoir  1' aider  a  remplir  la  lourde 
tache  dont  elle  a  jusqu'ici  supporte  si  vaillamment  tout  le  poids." 

A  Washington,  ou  j'ai  eu  I'honneur,  quelques  jours  avant  mon  depart, 
de  me  rencontrer  avec  M.  Viviani,  le  Marechal  Joffre  et  les  autres  mem- 
bres de  cette  remarquable  mission,  c'etait  de  tous  cotes  un  debordement 
d'enthousiasme  pour  la  France. 

De  r£tat  de  Virginie,  des  messages  ont  ete  envoyes  notamment  par  le 
College  de  William  et  Mary,  dont  le  President  (qui  est  un  fils  de  John 
Tyler)   me  prie  de  declarer  aux  universites  de  France  que: 

"  r  esprit  democratique  qui  s'est  manifeste  avec  tant  d  eclat 
en  la  personne  d'un  ancien  eleve  du  college,  Thomas  Jefferson, 
nous  fait  sympathiser  profondement  avec  la  France  dans  la 
grande  lutte  ou  elle  est  maintenant  engagee  contre  I'autocratie." 

Des  messages  me  sont  egalement  parvenus  de  FUniversite  de  Washington 
et  de  Lee  qui  fut  fondee  par  Georges  Washington  et  qui  au  nombre  de  ses 
tresors  les  plus  precieux,  possede  un  portrait  de  La  Fayette,  par  Peaie. 
Ce  n'est  pas  une  grande  institution,  mais  elle  est  animee  d'un  excellent 
esprit  et: 

"  les  etudiants  font  tous  les  jours  I'exercice  pour  se  preparer  a 
remplir  serieusement  leur  devoir  comme  freres  d'armes  des  etu- 
diants de  France." 


43 

Son  president  assure  les  universites  de  France  que 

"  dans    tous    les    centres    d'education    en    Amerique,    on    vibre 
d'enthousiasme  en  pensant  a  rheroisme  des  enfants  de  ia  France." 

Le  President  de  I'Umversite  de  Virginie,  M.  Edwin  A.  Alderman, 
vous  envoie  le  message  suivant: 

"  L'Universite  de  Virginie,  fondee  par  Thomas  Jefferson, 
auteur  de  la  Declaration  de  I'lndependance  americaine,  envoie 
I'expression  de  sa  sympathie  et  de  sa  confiance  aux  universites  de 
France  ainsi  qua  toute  la  jeunesse  des  ecoles  et  colleges.  Notre 
universite  se  souvient  avec  fierte  que  La  Fayette  et  Jefferson  se 
promenerent  jadis  dans  ses  jardins,  revant  ensemble  au  jour  ou 
la  democratic  et  la  fraternite  regneraient  sur  la  terre.  En  com- 
battant  avec  tant  de  vaillance  pour  la  realisation  de  ce  reve,  la 
France  a  ajoute  un  nouveau  fleuron  a  sa  couronne  de  gloire;  elle 
a  raffermi  I'estime  et  I'amour  des  peuples  en  apprenant  aux  nations 
libres  comment  il  faut  souffrir  pour  la  liberte.  Voila  pourquoi  le 
drapeau  tricolore  frangais  flotte  aujourd'hui  sur  nos  tours  et 
pourquoi  au  seul  nom  de  la  France,  nos  coeurs  s'enflamment 
d'une  noble  ardeur. 

Un  des  fils  de  notre  universite,  James  Rogers  MacConnell, 
dans  un  combat  aerien  ou  il  faisait  seul  face  a  trois  ennemis,  vient 
de  trouver  en  France  une  mort  heroique.  Ses  compagnons 
d'etudes  sont  fiers  de  lui  et  de  son  sacrifice.  II  restera  pour  nous 
comme  un  lien  nouveau  et  sacre  entre  le  pays  de  La  Fayette  et 
la  patrie  de  Jefferson." 

De  plus  loin  encore  dans  le  sud,  vous  sont  envoyes  d'autres  messages 
pleins  d'enthousiasme;  il  nous  en  est  venu  de  I'Universite  de  la  Caroline  du 
Nord  (dont  le  president  exprime  sa  reconnaissance  aux  universites  de 
France  pour  avoir  pleinement  confirme,  dans  un  style  d'une  puissance  et 
d'une  beaute  imperissables,  les  principes  sur  lesquels  notre  croyance  est 
fondee),  ainsi  que  du  College  de  la  Trinite  dans  le  meme  £tat;  il  en  est 
venu  de  I'Universite  de  la  Caroline  du  Sud  et  du  College  Rollins  dans 
r£tat  de  la  Floride;  de  I'Universite  de  la  Virginie  occidentale,  de 
I'Universite  Vanderbilt,  de  I'Etat  de  Tennessee,  de  I'Universite  du  Missis- 
sippi, de  I'Universite  de  Tulane  dans  la  Louisiane,  et  de  celle  de  la  ville  de 


44 

la  Nouvelle-Orleans  ou  se  sont  perpetuees  les  moeurs  et  les  traditions 
francaises,  de  I'Universite  de  I'ttat  du  Texas,  sur  les  confins  de  la  fron- 
liere  du  Mexique,  dont  le  President  ecrit: 

"  Nous  avons  I'espoir  que  les  universites  de  France,  d'Angle- 
terie  et  d'Amerique  s'uniront  dans  un  commun  effort  pour  edifier 
un  genre  de  civilisation  qui,  a  I'avenir,  rendra  impossible  le  retour 
d'une  situation  semblable  a  celle  qui  pese  a  I'heure  actuelle  sur  le 
monde.  " 

Robert  E.  Vinson 

President 

Ce  qui  doit  surtout  toucher  le  coeur  des  Frangais,  c'est  de  savolr  que  sur 
toute  I'etendue  de  i'immense  bassin  du  Mississippi  —  bassin  dont  les  grands 
cours  d'eau  ont  ete  suivis  par  les  explorateurs  francais  et  dont  les  grandes 
viiles  se  sont  elevees  sur  les  emplacements  des  forts  et  des  portages 
edifies  par  eux  —  I'amour  de  la  France  surgit  pour  ainsi  dire  du  sol. 

De  nombreux  messages  ont  ete  envoyes  par  les  universites  et  les  colleges 
de  r£tat  de  rOhio  (cet  £tat  tient  son  nom  du  fleuve  que  vos  explorateurs 
frangais  avaient  appeles  la  "  Belle  Riviere  ".  Je  ne  puis  citer  que  quelques 
phrases  de  ces  messages : 

Universite  de  I'Etat  de  I'Ohio: 

"Les  membres  de  I'Universite  s'unissent  pour  exprimer  leur 
admiration  pour  le  courage  et  Theroisme  deployes  par  le  peuple 
francais,  dans  la  lutte  magnifique  qu'il  livre  pour  la  defense  de  la 
liberte." 

Wm.  O.  Thompson 

President 
College  Oberlin: 

"  Notre  admiration  pour  la  grandeur  d'ame  que  la  France  a 
manifestee  dans  cette  crise  mondiale  augmente  tous  les  jours  et 
nous  sentons  avec  joie  que  i'influence  de  la  France  en  Amerique 
sera  plus  forte  que  jamais  aprcs  cette  guerre." 

Henri  Churchill  King 

President 
College  Kenyon: 

"  Un  tel  patriotisme  ne  s'est  pas  acquis  en  un  jour;  c'est  grace 
aux  lecons  et  sous  {'impulsion  de  leurs  maitres,  que  les  fils  de  la 
Republique  sont  devenus  des  heros  animes  du  plus  vif  patriotisme. 


45 

Honneur  et  gloire  a  ceux  qui  ont  enseigne  cet  esprit  sublime  de 
devouement  absolu  a  I'ideal  national,  et  a  ceux  qui  ont  su 
I'acquerir.  L'Amerique  est  fiere  de  prendre  place  aux  cotes  de  la 
grande  Republique  son  alliee.  Citoyens  d'une  nation  devouee  a 
I'ideal  de  la  liberte  et  de  la  democratic,  notre  plus  ambitieux 
espoir  est  que  notre  patriotisme  eclate  aussi  clair  et  aussi  fort  que 
celui  de  nos  freres  bien-aimes  de  France." 

William  F.  Peirce 

President 

College  Hiram: 

(Le  College  de  Garfield,  le  President  Martyr.) 

"  Dites  aux  universites  de  France  que  notre  College  est  pro- 
fondement  reconnaissant  a  leurs  membres  du  devouement  qu'ils 
ont  manifeste  dans  cette  lutte  pour  la  cause  de  la  liberte  et  du 
droit,  cause  que  nous  sommes  appeles  aujourd'hui  a  defendre  avec 
eux.  Pour  nous  encourager  a  entrer  en  lutte  a  leurs  cotes,  aux 
preuves  qu'ils  nous  ont  donnees  de  ce  devouement,  ils  ont  ajoute 
aussi  I'exemple  du  sacrifice  sans  precedent  qu'ils  ont  consenti  a 
cette  noble  cause.  Leur  ideal  le  plus  eleve  est  aussi  le  notre,  et 
notre  plus  ardent  desir  est  que  notre  communaute  d'action  dans 
cette  guerre  soit  le  commencement  d'une  permanente  et  intime 
collaboration  dans  les  luttes  futures  que  nous  aurons  encore  a 
soutenir  pour  le  triomphe  de  I'intelligence." 

Miner  Lee  Bates 

President 

Dans  I'Etat  du  Michigan,  dont  St.  Lusson  prit  possession  au  nom  de 
la  France,  et  dans  lequel  on  a  toujours  tenu  en  honneur  la  memoire  des 
explorateurs  frangais,  le  President  de  la  grande  Universite  de  I'Etat  ecrit 
ce  qui  suit  a  M.  le  Ministre  de  I'lnstruction  publique: 

Universite  du  Michigan: 

"Au  nom  des  membres  du  conseil  d'administration,  des  pro- 
fesseurs  et  des  etudiants  de  I'Universite  du  Michigan,  je  desire 
que  vous  portiez  aux  membres  des  conseils  d'administration,  aux 
professeurs  et  aux  etudiants  des  universites  francaises,  le  salut 
cordial  et  les  souhaits  sinceres  de  I'Universite  du  Michigan.  Vou3 
voudrez  bien  aussi  les  assurer  de  notre  profonde  sympathie  dans 


46 

la  lutte  actuelie.  Nous  sommes  de  tout  coeur  avec  eux  et  avec 
tout  le  peuple  francais,  dans  leur  effort  pour  bannir  a  jamais  du 
monde  la  domination  autocratique.  Esperons  que  nous  appro- 
chons  du  but;  mais,  que  ce  but  soit  proche  ou  encore  eloigne, 
rUniversite  du  Michigan,  toutes  les  universites,  tout  le  peuple 
americain  sont  prets  a  offrir  sans  marchander  tout  I'appui  qu'il 
est  en  leur  pouvoir  de  donner.  Permettez-moi  de  vous  assurer 
que  nous  n'avons  pas  oublie  la  genereuse  attitude  de  la  France 
et  de  son  peuple  envers  nous,  a  nos  heures  d'epreuves." 

H.    B.    HUTCHINS 

President 

Les  universites  et  colleges  de  1' Indiana: 

Le  message  de  I'Universite  de  I'ttat  a  ete  envoye  mais  n'est  pas  encore 
parvenu  en  France.  J'ai  egalement  recu  les  messages  de  sept  autres  uni- 
versites et  colleges  de  {'Indiana  avant  mon  depart  de  New-York.  L'un, 
de  I'Universite  Purdue,  situee  dans  une  ville  appelee  Lafayette,  nous 
apporte  en  ces  termes  le  salut  de  son  President: 

"  Nous  exprimons  notre  admiration  pour  le  courage  et  la 
grandeur  d'ame  du  peuple  francais.  Jamais  le  flambeau  de  la 
sciense  ne  s'eteindra  tant  qu'il  restera  confie  a  de  si  fideles  mains. 

"  Nous  saluons  en  vous  les  defenseurs  de  la  civilisation  et  nous 
vous  assurerons  de  toute  I'aide  que  nous  pourrons  vous  donner." 

W.  E.  Stone 

President 

Dans  un  message  de  I'universite  Catholique  de  Notre-Dame,  son 
President  est  particulierement  fier  de  rappeler  que  cette  universite  fut 
fondee,  il  y  a  75  ans,  par  un  missionnaire  francais,  et  que  ses  premiers 
professeurs  furent  tous  francais. 

Le  College  Wabash  exprime  I'espoir  qu'un  certain  nombre  de  ses  eleves 
iront,  sous  peu,  rejoindre  les  troupes  francaises  sur  le  front  occidental. 

Mais  le  message  le  plus  frappant  est  peut-etre  le  suivant,  qu'un  college 
quaker,   (Societe  des  Amis)   envoie  au  Ministre  de  I'lnstruction  publique: 

College  Earlham: 

"A  I'unanimite,  les  membres  du  corps  enseignant  et  les  eleves 
de  ce  college,  reunis  a  I'occasion  de  leurs  prieres  quotidiennes. 


47 

demandent  a  leur  President  de  vous  charger  de  transmettre  aux 
professeurs  et  aux  etudiants  de  France  leur  plus  cordial  salut  et 
^I'expression  de  leur  profonde  sympathie  dans  ces  terribles  jours 
d'epreuves.  Leur  courage  nous  a  fait  tressaillir  d'emotion  et  leur 
endurance  a  eleve  nos  cceurs.  Nous  prions  pour  que  les  nobles 
qualites  montrees  par  les  hommes  et  les  femmes  de  France, 
qualites  auxquelles  nous,  Americains,  sommes  tellement  redev- 
ables,  persistent  dans  leurs  ames  et  les  conduisent,  apres  cette 
guerre,  a  un  monde  meilleur  et  plus  heureux." 

Robert  Lincoln  Kelly 

President 

Les  universites  et  colleges  de  I'lllinois: 

De  cet  £tat  ou  La  Salle  esperait  fonder  la  capitale  de  Tempire  qu'il 
destinait  a  la  France,  I'ttat  ou  le  Pere  Marquette  fonda  une  tri'ou  d'Indiens 
qui,  s'appelant  "  Les  Hommes  ",  donnerent  leur  nom  a  TEtat,  ou  se  trouve 
la  tombe  d' Abraham  Lincoln,  de  cet  £tat  ou  la  premiere  maison  de  sa 
grande  capitale  Chicago  fut  la  hutte  du  Pere  Marquette,  vous  sont  envoyes 
tant  de  messages  qu'il  est  impossible  de  les  citer  tous. 

Un  president  exprime  la  grande  satisfaction  qui  nous  est  donnee  de 
"  pouvoir  nous  aligner  aux  cotes  de  la  France  ". 

La  pensee  de  I'Universite  du  Nord-Ouest  exprimee  par  M.  le  doyen 
Wigmore  dans  son  magnifique  plaidoyer  en  faveur  d'une  cooperation  intel- 
lectuelle,  est  completee  par  un  message  du  Dr  Holgate,  President  de 
I'Universite,  et  dont  le  fils  est  venu  servir  sur  le  front. 

Mais  je  ne  puis  ici  citer  que  la  lettre  du  President  de  I'Universite  de 
Chicago  qui  exprime  la  pensee  unanime  des  etablissements  d'education  de 
I'lllinois: 

"  Notre  corps  enseignant  et  nos  eleves  sont  entierement  acquis 
a  la  grande  cause  pour  laquelle  la  France  fait  de  si  grands  efforts 
et  sacrifice  le  meilleur  de  son  sang,  et  sympathisant  profondement 
avec  les  universites  sceurs  dans  la  serieuse  epreuve  a  laquelle  elles 
sont  soumises,  nous  leur  souhaitons  plein  succes  dans  Tavenir,  et 
nous  sommes  convaincus  qu'elles  ajoutent  a  leur  histoire  la  plus 
belle  et  plus  glorieuses  de  ses  pages." 

Harry  Pratt  Judson 

President 


48 

Les  sentiments  de  I'Etat  du  Wisconsin  ont  ete  si  generalement  incompris 
et  si  mal  interpretes,  qu'aucun  message  parmi  ceux  qui  composent  cette  col- 
lection, n'est  plus  important  et  plus  significatif  que  celui  du  president  de  la 
grande  Universite  de  cet  £tat,  dont  le  President  est  un  de  nos  plus  grands 
savants  et  publicistes. 

Universite  du  Wisconsin: 

"  Des  le  debut  de  la  guerre,  la  sympathie  des  membres  du 
corps  enseignant  de  TUniversite  du  Wisconsin  est  alle,  aux  Allies 
et  specialement,  a  la  France  et  a  I'Angleterre,  les  deux  grands 
pays  representant  la  democratic  en  Europe;  a  ce  groupe  de 
democraties  s'est  heureusement  jointe  une  autre  grande  puissance, 
la  Russie. 

Si  personne  en  Amerique  ne  peut  comprendre  toute  I'etendue 
du  sacrifice  que  la  France  a  fait  et  fait  encore  pour  la  cause  de 
la  civilisation,  nous  ne  sommes  pas  sans  reconnaitre  I'irresistible 
impulsion  qui  I'a  conduite  a  donner  tout  le  meilleur  de  son  sang 
et  a  contribuer  de  toutes  ses  ressources  materielles  a  une  fin 
heureuse  du  conflit. 

Durant  les  deux  premieres  annees  de  la  guerre,  les  esprits 
dirigeants  en  Amerique  ont  senti  combien  les  allies  pouvaient 
difficilement  comprendre  la  position  dans  laquelle  nous  nous 
trouvions,  et,  cependant,  il  nous  etait  impossible  d'obtenir  I'unite 
du  sentiment  public  necessaire  pour  soutenir  Taction  du  President 
et  du  Congres.  La  barbaric  de  la  guerre  sous-marine  a  rallie 
unanimement  notre  peuple  aux  principes  pour  lesquels  combattent 
les  Allies,  et,  maintenant,  les  £tats-Unis,  comme  toute  la  France 
I'a  reconnu,  ont  pris  au  nom  de  la  civilisation  une  position  tres 
nette  dans  ce  conflit. 

Nous  nous  trouvons  tres  soulages,  en  Amerique,  d'etre  sortis 
de  la  position  anormale  qu'etait  la  notre  jusqu'ici;  c'est  avec  joie 
que  nous  nous  sentons  completement  unis  aux  Allies,  dans  une 
determination  absolue  de  mettre  fin  a  la  domination  autocratique 
qui  a  amene  la  presente  catastrophe. 

"  L' Amerique  se  sent  toujours  profondement  reconnaissante  de 
I'immense   service   que   la   France   rendit   au   peuple  Americain 


49 

dans  notre  guerre  d'Independance.  Et  nous  accueillons  avec 
allegresse  I'occasion  qui  se  presente,  alors  qu'elle  traverse  une 
^rave  crise  nationale,  de  payer  a  la  France  notre  ancienne  dette. 

Je  desire  faire  part  aux  recteurs  des  universites  de  France  de 
rria  profonde  appreciation  des  contributions  que  ces  universites  ont 
apportees,  et  continuent  d'apporter,  a  I'avancement  de  la  science  et 
de  la  civilisation;  je  desire  aussi  leur  exprimer  ma  profonde  sym- 
pathie  pour  les  malheurs  que  certaines  universites  ont  eprouves. 
je  compte  heureusement  des  amis  et  des  collegues  parmi  les  uni- 
versitaires  francais;  certains  d'entre  eux  appartenaient  a  cette 
mfortunee  universite  de  Lille,  aujourd'hui  encore  dans  les  lignes 
allemandes,  mais  qui,  nous  I'esperons,  sera  bientot  rendue  a  la 
France. 

"Avec  ma  profonde  sympathie  pour  les  epreuves  presentes, 
mais  confiant  dans  un  avenir  radieux  pour  les  universites 
francaises,  pour  la  France  et  pour  la  democratic,  je  suis  sincere- 
ment  votre." 

Charles  R.  Van  Hise 

President 

Une  lettre  du  Dr.  Eaton,  President  du  College  Beloit,  du  meme  £tat. 
conhrme  les  sentiments  exprimes  dans  ce  magnifique  message. 

De  chaleureux  messages  me  sont  egalement  parvenus  de  TUniversite 
d'£tat  de  I'lowa,  ainsi  que  des  principaux  colleges  de  cet  £tat,  de  I'Uni- 
versite  d'£tat  et  des  principaux  etablissements  d'enseignement  du  Missouri. 
de  rUniversite  d'£tat  du  Kansas,  de  TUniversite  d'£tat  du  Dakota  du 
Sud,  de  rUniversite  d'Etat  du  Dakota  du  Nord,  cette  region  lointaine  du 
des  explorateurs  francais,  les  Verendrye,  arriverent  en  vue  des  montagnes 
rocheuses. 

LE    FAR    WEST 

La  resolution  suivante  a  ete  votee  par  les  membres  du  corps  enseignant  et 
les  etudiants  d'un  college  construit  sur  une  haute  montagne  qui  domine 
I'immense  plaine  du  Mississippi,  le  College  du  Colorado: 

"  Le  College  du  Colorado,  situe  sur  la  rive  gauche  de  cette 
fameuse  vallee  du  Mississippi  qui  fut  exploree  par  d'intrepides 
Francais  et  dont  ils  prirent  possession  au  nom  de  la  France, 
adresse  ses  plus  cordiales  salutations  aux  instituteurs  et  eleves  des 


50 

ecoles,  aux  professeurs  et  etudiants  des  universites  de  France,  ce 
pays  lointain  dont  la  sympathie  et  I'assistance  ont  rendu  possible 
lexistence  meme  de  notre  nation. 

A  ces  Allies,  dont  I'esprit  ressemble  tant  au  notre,  nous  envoy- 
ons  I'expression  de  notre  vive  compassion  pour  les  cruels  ravages 
exerces  sur  leur  beau  pays,  ainsi  que  pour  toutes  les  pertes  et  les 
deuils  qu'ils  ont  eprouves.  Nous  leur  exprimons  I'assurance  de 
notre  profonde  admiration  pour  I'indomptable  courage  des  soldats 
frangais  et  pour  les  merveilleux  exploits  accomplis  par  eux  sur 
les  champs  d'epouvante.  Nous  promettons  a  la  France  et  a  ses 
Allies  dans  cette  grande  lutte,  notre  complete  adhesion  a  I'ideal 
de  liberte  qui  les  inspire.  Nous  sommes  resolus  nous  aussi,  quel 
qu  en  soit  le  prix,  a  ne  pas  deposer  les  armes  avant  que  le  jour 
de  la  liberte,  de  la  justice  et  de  la  fraternite  se  leve  enfin  sur  le 
monde  tant  eprouve  par  la  guerre.  Puisse  cet  heureux  jour  ne 
pas  se  faire  longtemps  attendre." 

Void  deux  telegrammes,  I'un  de 

L'Universite  du  Colorado: 

"  En  I'honneur  de  la  France  et  en  temoignage  de  notre  grati- 
tude pour  les  efforts  qu'elle  fait  en  vue  de  la  realisation  des 
espoirs  de  la  civilisation,  pour  son  devouement  inlassable  et  desin- 
teresse  a  la  cause  des  arts,  des  sciences,  de  la  liberte  et  de 
I'humanite,  notre  universite  envoie  son  salut  a  tous  les  educateurs 
de  la  grande  Republique  soeur.  Nous  sommes  heureux  que  la 
France  immortelle  et  I'Amerique  fraternisent  aujourd'hui  sur 
les  champs  de  bataille,  comme  elles  n'ont  cesse  de  fraterniser 
jusqu'ici  dans  les  arts  et  dans  les  sciences.  Pour  tout  ce  que  la 
France  a  fait,  pour  tout  ce  qu'elle  fera  encore  nous  la  remercions 
et  nous  I'aimons." 

Livingston  Farrand 

President 

r autre  de 

L'Universite  du  Montana: 

"  Les  etudiants,  les  membres  du  corps  enseignant  et  tous  les 
fonctionnaires  de  I'universite  vous  seront  toujours  tres  reconnais- 
sants  si  vous  pouvez  faire  comprendre  aux  universites  de  France 


51 

toute  I'etendue  de  notre  admiration  pour  la  perseverance,  I'esprit 
de  sacrifice  et  I'heroisme  supreme  dont  le  peuple  fran^ais  a  fait 
preuve  pour  la  defense  de  la  liberte  humaine. 

"  Par  la,  les  maitres  de  i'enseignement  et  les  etudiants  de 
France  ont  apporte  une  contribution  immortelle  a  la  cause  de 
Teducation  de  I'homme  libre  pour  tous  les  temps  a  venir.  " 

Edward  C.  Elliot 

Chancelief 

Tous  les  autres  £tats  auraient  ete  representes,  et  je  crois  pouvoir  le  dire 
sans  exageration,  toutes  les  autres  universites  ainsi  que  tous  les  autres 
colleges  des  £tats-Unis  auraient  exprime  des  sentinnents  semblables  si 
seulement  ils  avaient  eu  le  temps  de  !e  faire.  Aussitot  ma  niission  decidee, 
les  choses  se  sent  passees  si  rapidement  qu'il  a  ete  impossible  d'aviser  a 
temps  les  £tals  du  Pacifique  pour  recevoir  leurs  reponses  qui  sont  evidem- 
ment  en  route. 

LES  COTES  DU  PACIFIQUE 
Un  seul  message  nous  est  parvenu  de  ces  rivages  lointains  et  ce  sonc  des 
paroles  d'une  grande  envolee,  Ce  message  emane  du  President  de 
rUniversite  Leland  Standford,  !e  Dr.  Wilbur,  et  il  convient  de  remarquer 
qu'il  s'exprime  au  nom  de  tous  les  membres  du  corps  enseignant  et  des 
etudiants  de  ce  vaste  groupement,  lequel  est  presque  aussi  loin  de  New- 
York  que  New- York  est  eloigne  de  Paris. 

"A  Monsieur  le  Ministre  de  ITnstruction  publique  en  France: 

Honore  Monsieur, 

"  Puis-je  me  permettre  de  vous  presenter  ainsi  qu'aux  recteurs 
des  universites  de  France,  le  salut  de  tous  les  membres  de  I'uni- 
versite  Leland  Stanford.  Nous  tenons  a  ce  que  vous  sachiez 
quels  sont  nos  sentiments  de  gratitude  profonde  et  eternelle  vis-a- 
vis de  la  France  pour  ses  nobles  sacrifices  a  I'egard  de  la  cause  de 
la  civilisation.  Nous  tenons  a  accomphr  notre  part  et  a  vous 
venir  en  aide  de  toutes  les  manieres  possibles  aujourd'hui  meme 
et  tout  de  suite,  ainsi  que  dans  I'avenir.  Adressez-vous  a  nous 
sans  aucune  contrainte,  soit  individuellement,  soit  collectivement, 
si  nous  pouvons  vous  etre  utiles." 

Ray  Lyman  Wilbur 

President 


52 

Revenant  aux  cotes  de  I'Atlantique,  j'ai  I'honneur  de  vous  transmettre 
le  salut  cordial  de  nos  deux  ecoles  nationales  d'instruction  de  rarmee  et  de 
la  marine,  rAcademie  militaire  des  £tats-Unis  a  West-Point,  notre  Saint- 
Cyr,  et  I'Academie  navale  des  £tats-Unis  a  Annapolis. 

Les  officiers  qui  en  sont  sortis  prendront  bientot  euxmemes  la  parole  au 
nom  de  ces  ecoles,  et  cela  dans  un  langage  qui,  nous  en  sommes  assures, 
fera  honneur  a  leurs  maitres. 

Le  Directeur  de  I'Academie  navale  parle  en  termes  emus  de  la  visite 
vecente  des  officiers  et  des  marins  du  vaisseau  amiral  francais,  le  "  Jeanne- 
d'Arc,"  ainsi    que  du  bon  souvenir  qu'ils  ont  laisse. 

Je  ne  puis  mieux  terminer  se  succinct  rapport  de  ma  mission  que  par 
le  poeme  dedie  aux  femmes  de  France  et  qui  a  ete  compose  par  les 
eleves  de  I'un  de  nos  principaux  colleges  de  jeunes  filles,  le  College  Vassar, 
de  r£tat  de  New-York.  La  traduction  en  a  ete  faite  par  une  jeune  fille 
americame,  Miss  Mary  C.  Lines,  qui  a  passe  son  baccalaureat  en  France, 
et  est  un  symbole  de  I'Alliance  que  nous  voudrions  voir  se  developper  de 
plus  en  plu3  pour  la  cause  de  la  liberte  et  de  la  justice  sur  la  terre: 

"A  VOUS,  jeunes  filles  de  France,  qui  par  votre  attitude  cour- 
ageuse  dans  la  soufFrance,  avez  ennobli  la  jeunesse  et  la  femme, 
nous,  jeunes  filles  du  College  Vassar,  vous  adressons  notre  salut, 
fieres  de  pouvoir  nous  dire  vos  camarades  et  persuadees  qu'apres 
avoir  puise  des  forces  dans  le  sacrifice,  nous  saurons,  nous  aussi, 
nous  montrer  dignes  du  fardeau  que  nous  avons,  desormais,  a 
supporter  en  commun.  " 

FRANCAISES 
Ce  n'est  plus  I'heure  des  paroles  banales 
Qui  tombent  de  levres  insouciantes. 
A  I'Atlantique  perilleuse. 

Nous  confions  ce  message  de  bonne  camaraderie. 
Jeunes  filles  de  la  belle  France, 
II  y  a  quatre  ans  nous  vous  cherchions 
Dans  nos  reves,  les  yeux  cblouis 
Par  la  lumiere  de  celle  qui  mourut  pour  vous. 
Cinq   fois  cent  ans  passes. 
Alors  les  reves .  .  ,   et  puis  Forage. 
Votre  destmee  se  grave 
En  lettres  de  feu  et  de  sang. 
L*-bas,  dans  nos  foyers  encore  paisibles. 
Nous  fremissions  devant  le  defi. 


53 

Defi  inattendu  et  subit 

Qui  paralyse  vos  forces. 

Mais,  devant  I'ennemi,  sublimes,  encore, 

Vous  tenez  fermes 

Avec  toute  I'ancienne  vigueur  de  votre  race, 

Tandis  que  vos  glorieuses  figures  nous  eblouissent. 

Maintenant,  face  a  face  avec  le  barbare 

Nous  connaissons  votre  agonie  dans  le  triomphe 

Et  c'est  avec  de  pieuses  mains  que  nous  cherchons  a  placer 

Notre  nom  '^  cote  du  votre. 

Comme  vous,  sans  peur,  nous  voulons  engager  la  bataille. 

Et,  abandonnant  les  plaisirs  de  la  jeunesse 

Lutter  avec  le  courage  de  la  femme. 

Pourtant  la  Vie  et  la  Paix  sont  bien  douces 

Quand  les  bourgeons  du  printemps  eclosent ; 

Le  son  du  clairon  est  rauque 

Le  pas  cadence  des  soldats  en  marche 

Resonne  pour  rien  par  les  sentiers. 

Avons-nous  bien  compris? 

Ce  sont  les  appels  au  combat  qui  nous  convient, 

Nous  aussi,  a  confondre  le  destructeur. 

Jeunes  filles  fran^aises  durant  de  longs  mois 

Nous  avons  vu  votre  jeunesse, 

Votre  bonheur,  vos  ambitions  s'evanouir 

Comme  une  etoile  dans  le  ciel. 

Nous  avons  vu  surgir  en  vous 

Un  sentiment  de  vaillance  qui  vous  rend  fortes 

Et  sans  crainte  au  milieu  des  ruines. 

Puissions-nous  montrer  la  meme  ardeur  que  la  Pucelle 

Dont  le  courage  resonne  a  travers  les  siecles. 

Et  suivre  sans  faiblir  la  voie  qu'elle  a  tracee. 

La  vraie  signification  de  ma  mission  ne  reside  pas  seulement  dans  le 
grand  nombre  de  messages  que  j'ai  le  grand  honneur  de  vous  transmettre, 
mais  dans  le  fait  que  ces  messages  vous  disent  la  pensee  d'un  peuple  sincere- 
ment  et  profondement  imbu  des  principes  democratiques.  Et  ils  expriment 
la  meme  idee  a  laquelle  notre  President  Wilson  a  donne  une  si  noble  forme. 
Ils  sollicitent  votre  alliance  sur  le  terrain  intellectuel  aussi  bien  que  sur  le 
terrain  militaire.  Si  I'alliance  militaire  doit  d'abord  s'imposer,  elle  doit 
etre  envisagee  comme  le  prelude  de  Tailiance  intellectuelle. 

Aux  £tats-Unis,  nous  nous  demandons  comment  nos  ecoles,  nos  colleges 
et  nos  universites  pourront  contribuer  ensuite  a  la  victoire  de  la  cause  pour 
laquelle  nous  aurons  ainsi  combattu.     Nous  avons  commence  a  nous  ranger 


54 

aux  cotes  du  peuple  frangais  en  combattant  avec  lui  dans  les  airs,  sur  les 
mers  et  dans  les  tranchees. 

Les  listes  des  braves  tombes  au  Champ  d'Honneur  que  j'ai  vues  dans 
toutes  les  universites,  les  colleges  et  les  ecoles  de  France  que  j'ai  visites, 
nous  disent  assez  ce  qu'il  faut  attendre  des  jeunes  gens  de  nos  universites, 
et  je  crois  que  ces  derniers  feront  leur  devoir  aussi  heroiquement  que  leurs 
camarades  fran^ais.  Mais,  avec  la  France  et  I'Angleterre,  nous  devons 
regarder  encore  plus  loin,  examiner  I'avenir  reserve  a  ces  universites  aux 
portiques  desquelles  ces  Tableaux  d'Honneur  sont  si  fierement  exposes,  et 
determiner  ce  que,  plus  tard,  nous  pourrons  faire  pour  reconstruire,  ren- 
forcer,  elargir  ces  insdtutions  vouees  au  deveioppement  de  I'humanite  par 
la  liberte  et  la  justice. 

Quelque£-unes  de  vos  ecoles  n'ont  pu  afficher  ces  tableaux  d'Honneur: 
car  elles  ont  ete  detruites  avec  une  joie  malsame,  comme  ces  arbres  des 
districts  devastes  qui  seraient  maintenant  en  fleurs.  Manifestation  d'une 
civilisation  pervertie  qui,  frappant  les  institutions  destinees  a  aider  une 
democratic  a  s'elever  jusqu'a  une  vie  plus  noble,  croit  atteindre  la  demo- 
cratie  elle-meme;  mais  manifestation  qui  nous  indique  aussi  quelles  seront 
les  premieres  restaurations  a  realiser  lorsque  nous  aurons  ensemble  libere  le 
pays  oil  ces  ecoles  ont  ete  detruites. 

Au  dela  de  ce  cote  materiel  de  la  question,  nous  devons  aussi,  et  des 
maintenant,  elaborer  un  plan  d'enseignement  qui  rendra  plus  feconds  encore 
les  buts  que  nous  nous  proposons. 

Nous  devrons  avoir,  dans  I'enseignement,  comme  il  y  en  a  a  la  guerre, 
des  "  officiers  de  liaison  ",  c'est-a-dire  des  professeurs  d'echange  entre  la 
France  et  I'Amerique,  d'une  part,  entre  la  France  et  I'Angleterre,  d'autre 
part.  Et  les  etudiants  d'A^merique  et  les  etudiants  de  France  doivent  se 
reunir  dans  ces  ecoles  ou  Ton  s'entraine  pour  les  luttes  que  nous  aurons 
encore  plus  tard  a  soutenir  sur  le  terrain  de  I'esprit. 

II  est  essentiel  que  nous  ayons  deux  langues  a  notre  disposition:  I'anglais 
et  le  frangais,  non  seulement  afin  que  les  uns  puissent  suivre,  comme  c'est 
maintenant  le  cas,  la  pensee  generale  des  autres,  mais  aussi  pour  arriver  a 
une  comprehension  parfaite  de  nos  moyens  d'action  et  de  nos  methodes 
reciproques. 

II  faut  aussi  que  nous  autres  Americains  nous  assimilions  les  methodes 
patientes  et  desinteressees  de  I'esprit  francais,  ainsi  que  le  courage  calme, 
modeste  et  invincible  de  votre  cceur. 

Nous  devons  encore  etudier  quelle  est  la  meilleure  contribution  que  nous 
puissions  apporter  a  I'oeuvre  commune,  pour  I'avenir.  Les  deux  suggestions 
que  je  viens  de  faire  ont  deja  requ  un  commencement  d'execution.  Mais 
pour  le  moment,  les  messages  que  j'ai  eu  I'honneur  de  vous  apporter  vous 
revelent  notre  unanime  sentiment  et  vous  prouvent  notre  reconnaissance, 
notre  admiration  et  notre  profonde  affection. 


55 


RECEPTION   BY  THE  MINISTER  OF  PUBLIC 
INSTRUCTION 

I  was  received,  in  the  late  afternoon  of  the  day  after  the  night 
of  my  arrival,  by  the  Minister  of  Public  Instruction,  echoes  of 
whose  proclamation  to  the  schools  of  France  on  the  occasion  of 
the  entering  of  America  into  the  war  I  heard  in  all  parts  of 
France.  I  quote  here  a  few  paragraphs.  (The  full  text  in 
translation  was  published  in  the  Bulletin  of  the  University  of  the 
State  of  New  York  of  May  15,  1917.) 

The  Republic  of  the  United  States  has  just  entered  the  struggle  which 
in  concert  with  our  allies  we  are  carrying  on  for  freedom  of  the  nations,  the 
safeguarding  of  our  civilization. 

1  expect  very  shortly  to  ask  the  teachers  under  your  direction  to  devote 
on  the  same  day  an  hour  to  the  celebration  of  this  great  event.  I  shall  send 
you,  to  be  read  to  the  pupils,  an  historic  outline  and  a  lesson  drawn  up  by 
eminent  professors  of  our  University.  But  immediately  after  the  Easter 
vacation  and  in  accordance  with  the  desire  expressed  by  Parhament  I  beg 
you  to  invite  the  teachers  to  make  known  to  the  children  of  all  our  institu- 
tions and  all  our  schools  the  message  of  President  Wilson,  the  telegram 
addressed  by  the  President  of  the  French  Republic  to  the  President  of  the 
Republic  of  the  United  States  and  the  addresses  delivered  by  the  Presidents 
of  both  houses  of  our  legislature  and  by  the  President  of  the  cabinet  of 
ministers.  You  will  invite  the  teachers  to  point  out  the  civic  and  moral 
significance  of  the  tremendous  step  which  we  have  witnessed.    .    .    . 

Certainly  the  RepubHc  has  known  its  difficulties  and  its  internal  dis- 
orders; it  is  not  without  crises  that  it  has  developed  the  radiant  principles 
which  it  bore  in  its  bosom.  It  has  nevertheless  proceeded  with  its  task. 
Battered  by  many  a  storm,  the  French  democracy  has  lived  and  grown. 
Its  consecration  is  at  hand;  a  soHdarity  which  heretofore  was  unknown 
binds  France,  the  leader  of  nations,  to  all  peoples  that  are  lovers  of  beauty, 
peace  and  liberty.  Humanity  bleeds  from  the  wounds  of  France  and  the 
world  acclaims  with  shouts  of  joy  the  first  signs  of  her  coming  victory. 

The  teachers  of  our  schools  will  know,  I  am  sure,  how  to  exalt  in  the 
hearts  of  their  pupils  the  sentiments  of  confidence  and  pride  which  are 
strengthened  by  the  fraternal  and  magnificent  action  of  the  great  Republic 
of  the  United  States. 

His  special  message  came  later  in  the  form  of  a  reproduction, 
in  Sevres,  of  the  figure  of  a  young  man  of  noble  countenance,  of 
studious  mien  and  lithe  body,  who  has  taken  the  implements  of 
war  and  donned  the  casque  —  a  visualization   of  the  French 


56 

university  man  of  whom  the  Recteur  of  the  University  of  Bor- 
deaux' has  written  out  of  the  sorrow  and  pride  of  his  own  loss. 
The  statistics  of  the  university  men  killed,  wounded  and  missing 
were  not  exposed,  in  the  thought  perhaps  that  they  would  give 
comfort  to  the  enemy,  but  the  percentages  would  have  borne 
high  tribute  to  the  heroism  of  those  young  men  who  have  left 
all  and  followed  the  colors  into  the  gates  of  death.  President 
Butler's  phrase  is  pertinent,  "  the  flower  of  France  and  therefore 
of  modern  civilization."  The  flower  has  indeed  been  stricken  by 
the  red  frosts  which  have  blighted,  too,  the  flower  of  England. 
The  letters  of  some  of  these  youth  published  recently  in  "  The 
Atlantic  "  reveal  their  quality.  One  can  only  hope  that  the 
trees  will  bear  even  richer  fruit  another  decade  and  century 
because  of  what  has  fallen  upon  the  soil  in  which  their  roots  lie. 

But  I  saw  in  this  figure  the  prototype  of  our  college  men,  of 
even  sturdier  form,  who  have  responded  to  the  call  of  the  same 
higher  motives,  but  without  the  immediate  appeal  of  an  invaded 
land,  yet  with  a  spirit  and  devotion  unsurpassed  in  any  country. 

If  any  one  has  had  question  as  to  the  spiritual  soundness  of 
our  universities  and  colleges,  the  question  has  been  quieted  by  the 
sublime  offering  of  their  teachers  and  students  in  this  crisis. 

AUDIENCE  BY  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  REPUBLIC 

I  was  formally  received  by  the  President  of  the  French 
Republic  at  the  Elysee  Palace  in  the  late  afternoon  of  the  Sat- 
urday after  my  arrival,  and  was  given  the  opportunity  to  present 
the  message  from  Governor  Whitman  (most  artistically  engrossed 
and  illuminated)  embodying  a  copy  of  his  proclamation  of 
"  French  Day  "  for  the  State  of  New  York.  This  presentation 
brought  a  most  cordial  immediate  response  and  a  later  message 
in  which  the  President  said  that  he  would  be  very  grateful  to 
me  if  I  "  Tvould  interpret  to  the  student  iwuth  of  the  great 
Country,  Friend  and  Alh,  and  to  the  teachers  who  guide  their 
spirit  toward  the  ideas  for  which  the  civilized  world  battles 
against  barbarism,  the  deep  sympathy  which  is  shared  b^  all  the 
teachers  and  students  of  France. 


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57 

University  of  Paris 

A  formal  welcome  was  given  by  the  University  of  Paris,  at  a 
meeting  called  to  receive  the  messages  which  I  bore.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  four  faculties  —  law,  letters,  science  and  medicine  — 
assembled  in  the  lofty  council  hall  of  the  Sorbonne,  and  after 
an  introduction  by  Dean  Appel,  in  the  absence  of  Vice  Rector 
Liard  ^ —  that  great  scholar  and  administrator,  born  in  the  same 
village  as  William  the  Norman,  being  too  ill  to  attend  the 
meetings  —  I  presented  the  addresses  of  the  Regents  and  the  uni- 
versities, with  the  distinguished  assistance  of  Monsieur  Legouis, 
professor  of  English. 

This  address  became  the  basis  for  a  discussion  as  to  practical 
steps  for  a  closer  cooperation  between  the  universities  of  the  two 
countries.  (That  which  relates  to  degrees  will  be  found  in 
descriptions  of  the  several  universities.) 

Two  noteworthy  movements  toward  this  end  are  now  under 
way:  One  has  as  its  object  the  establishment  of  a  hundred 
American  fellowships  in  French  universities,  the  other  the  pro- 
vision of  a  Maison  that  shall  become  a  center  where  American 
and  French  students  in  Paris  can  come  into  closer  social  relation. 
Dean  (now  Major)  Wigmore,  of  Northwestern  University,  is 
the  chairman  of  the  first  organization,  and  Professor  Barrett 
Wendell  of  the  other.  In  connection  with  the  former  and  pre- 
liminary to  it  there  has  been  published  by  the  Committee  of  One 
Hundred,  sponsors  for  the  movement,  a  volume  entitled  "  Science 
and  Learning  in  France,"  which  gives  in  attractive  form  informa- 
tion concerning  the  history  and  present  work  of  the  University  of 
France. 

It  will  be  pertinent  to  speak  of  another  in  which  only  the 
American  universities  and  colleges  are  directly  concerned:  the 
establishment  of  a  center  for  American  university  and  college 
men  in  France  during  the  war.  I  was  asked  to  represent  the 
American  university  men  of  Paris  in  organizing  the  American 
committee  to  raise  the  necessary  funds  for  this  purpose,  but  I 


'  M.  Liard  has  since  died  and  France  has  lost  her  greatest  university  administrator. 


58 

found  on  arrival  that  such  an  organization  was  already  under 
way.  I  therefore  urged  the  Paris  committee  to  associate  itself 
with  this  American  committee,  which  under  the  American  Uni- 
versity Union  in  Europe  and  under  such  trustees  as  Dr  Anson 
Phelps  Stokes,  President  Goodnow  and  President  Hutchins, 
has  already  assurance  of  adequate  initial  support  and  competent 
service.  Its  primary  function  is  social  but  it  is  hoped  that  it  will 
later  take  on  educational  functions  and  establish  extension  courses 
nearer  the  front. 

But  there  is  still  another  provision  that  should  be  had  definitely 
in  mind,  namely,  systematic  provision  for  the  teaching  of  French, 
particularly  to  college  men,  not  only  here  but  in  France,  and  not 
only  for  its  immediate  practical  military  utility,  but  also  for  its 
later  value  in  our  cooperation  with  France  in  strengthening  and 
enlarging  the  institutions  of  freedom  and  justice  in  the  earth. 
Instruction  in  the  French  language,  literature  and  history,  during 
the  periods  of  leisure  in  the  war,  will  give  basis  also  for  the 
more  thorough  pursuit  of  these  subjects  after  the  war,  in  the 
French  universities,  which  in  time  will  equip  for  teaching,  par- 
ticularly in  our  secondary  schools,  when  the  need  for  such  teach- 
ing is  unquestionably  to  be  greatly  increased. 

These  objects  are  all  worthy,  as  I  believe,  of  the  cooperating 
interest  of  American  universities  and  colleges,  but  while  organiza- 
tions are  already  under  way  for  three  of  these  purposes,  it  remains 
to  organize  specifically  the  fourth.  The  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  the 
Knights  of  Columbus  are  making  plans  for  recreation  and  some 
incidental  instruction,  but  I  think  we  should  not  let  go  by  unim- 
proved the  opportunity  which  the  physical  presence  of  thousands 
of  young  college,  university  and  professional  men  in  France  and 
near  England  gives,  to  bring  them  within  the  touch  of  the  greatest 
minds  in  Europe  and  to  equip  them  with  the  language  of  French 
thought. 

The  American  University  Union  in  Europe,  as  intimated 
above,  offers  an  ideal  organization  for  beginning  such  work  in 
supplement  of  the  Army  interpreters  and  the  elementary  instruc- 
tion undertaken  by  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 


The  faculty  room  in  the  Sorbonne  In  which  the  messages  to  the  h  rench 
Universities  were  first  delivered,  about  one  hundred  representatives  of  the 
four  facuhies  being  present 


59 


ADDRESS  BY  DEAN  APPEL 

Mr  Finley  has  greatly  favored  us ;  he  has  come  to  the  Sorbonne  to  pre- 
sent to  us  *  *  *  the  messages  of  more  than  a  hundred  universities 
and  schools. 

He  has  had  the  thoughtfulness  at  the  very  friendly  luncheon  of  last 
Wednesday  to  present  to  us  General  Pershing,  the  great  soldier  whom 
our  colleague,  Larnaude,  has  saluted  with  the  title  of  new  Lafayette. 

Mr  Finley  has  thus  expressed  in  a  striking  way  the  double  sentiment 
which  animates  us:  union  and  universal  brotherhood,  union  in  the  struggle 
against  the  enemy  of  Right. 

The  University'  of  Paris  has  solemnly  responded  to  him  with  an  address 
of  thanks,  a  copy  of  which  we  present  to  him  signed  by  the  members  of 
the  council. 

But  what  we  wish  to  bring  out  in  this  address  are  the  sentiments  of 
affection  and  of  deep  sympathy  *  ^  *  which  we  extend  to  all  the 
members  of  the  American  universities  whom  he  represents. 

These  sentiments  which  have  long  existed  on  University  ground  have 
taken  a  new  intensity  in  this  war,  to  which  the  United  States  comes  with 
all  their  irresistible  strength,  all  their  resolute  will  to  assure  the  triumph  of 
liberty  and  of  justice. 

Our  enemies,  the  Germans,  have  formed  the  habit,  in  their  frenzy  of 
narrow  positivism,  of  denying  the  efficacy  of  the  sentiments  of  humanity  and 
of  justice,  of  affection  and  of  sympathy  among  nations,  and  of  treating 
them  as  sentimentalities  without  value  in  the  consideration  of  material 
interests  in  the  instruments  of  war.  They  have  discovered,  a  little  late, 
that  these  sentiments  have  a  reality  as  real  as  steel  and  explosives,  that 
they  animate  hearts,  that  they  engender  wills  capable  of  creating  arms, 
the  explosives  and  instruments  of  war  which  will  assure  the  triumph  of 
justice  and  of  right  and  will  put  an  end  to  the  reign  of  violence. 

Gentlemen:  I  propose  the  health  of  Mr  Finley  as  representing  the 
sister  universities  of  the  United  States  as  symbolizing  the  union  which  will 
give  us  victory,  and  I  present  to  him  in  the  name  of  all  our  colleagues,  in 
token  of  that  union,  the  medal  of  the  University  of  Paris. 

MESSAGE  TO  AMERICAN  UNIVERSITIES 

UNIYERSITE  DE  PARIS 

Paris,  June  19,  1917 

The  University  of  Paris  expresses  to  the  American  universities  its  pro- 
found gratitude  for  the  eloquent  addresses  which  they  have  sent  to  the 
French  universities  on  the  occasion  of  the  alliance  of  the  two  peoples  in 
the  formidable  conflict  which  fills  the  world. 


60 

France  has  known  for  a  long  time  that  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic 
in  the  two  sister  repubhcs,  the  universities  are  putting  forth  efforts  toward 
the  same  ideal  —  more  truth,  more  justice. 

But  deeds  have  added  to  words  their  shining  confirmation.  In  response 
to  the  voice  of  a  great  university  man,  the  illustrious  President  Wilson, 
America  has  claimed  as  a  glorious  privilege  her  part  in  the  sacrifice.  In 
the  immense  national  movement  ^v'hich  has  carried  the  United  States  toward 
the  defense  of  Right  and  of  Liberty,  the  American  universities  have  been 
in  the  first  ranks.  The  flower  of  their  youth  are  prepared  to  combat  beside 
ours.  Their  idealism,  which  is  as  disinterested  as  it  is  heroic,  compels  our 
admiration. 

Such  bonds  are  indestructible. 

The  remembrance  of  the  old  alliance,  personified  in  the  names  of 
Lafayette  and  of  Rochambeau,  had  created  the  germs  of  a  durable  friend- 
ship. The  new  alliance  which  combines  in  a  common  amity  the  chivalrous 
adversaries  of  former  days,  prepares  the  way  amongst  all  for  a  closer  and 
more  fruitful  collaboration  out  of  which  there  \v\\\  arise  for  all  humcinity 
a  better  future. 

The  University  of  Paris,  in  greeting  the  American  universities  as  com- 
rades-in-arms, greets  in  them  the  makers  of  future  peace  and  expresses  to 
them  its  unalterable  fraternity. 

(Signed  by  L.  LIARD,  vice  recteur  of  the  University  of  Paris,  and  the 
Deans  of  the  several  Faculties.) 

Nancy 

The  visitation  of  the  university  centers  outside  of  Paris  began 
with  the  journey  to  Nancy,  a  city  of  great  charm  but  with  much 
of  its  beauty  screened  from  sight  for  protection  against  bombs, 
for  it  is  still  within  range  of  the  German  *'  long  gun  "  (over 
twenty  miles  away)  which,  according  to  recent  reports,  has  again 
begun  its  operations.  I  have  spoken  of  the  School  of  Medicine. 
The  Faculties  of  Letters  and  of  Law  have  also  but  a  handful  of 
students.  The  Faculty  of  Science  holds  a  greater  number,  prin- 
cipally of  young  men  preparing  for  engineering  service.  But  the 
recteur  (M.  Adam)  and  the  professors  are  keeping  alive  the 
institution,  busying  themselves  with  ^var  tasks  that  have  been 
added  to  their  accustomed  ministrations  in  peace.  This  beautiful 
city  that  was  before  the  war  of  about  the  population  of  Albany, 
has  lost  nearly  half  its  inhabitants,  but  the  people  who  remain  go 
on  with  their  daily  work,  interrupting  it  only  to  run  to  shelter  if 
exposed,  when  the  alarm  gives  warning  of  approaching  hostile 


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61 

aircraft.  (And  the  alarm  came  the  night  after  I  reached  Nancy, 
and  I  saw  my  first  sky  battle  from  Square  Stanislas.)  One  ele- 
mentary school  building  had  been  completely  wrecked  by  a  shell, 
and  the  presence  of  mind  of  the  master,  as  I  have  said,  alone 
saved  the  lives  of  the  children.  Some  of  the  lycees  were  used  m 
part  as  hospitals,  and  two  or  three  thousand  children  from  the 
invaded  territory  were  being  cared  for  in  the  casernes,  or  barracks, 
a  cheerless  environment  for  these  exiled  little  ones,  who  are  given 
such  care  as  the  hospitable  hearts  but  meager  means  of  their  hosts 
can  afford  in  the  midst  of  their  own  privations  and  anxieties. 
Some  of  the  older  girls  had  been  gathered  into  a  little  and  well 
conducted  school  outside  of  the  barracks,  where  they  were  taught 
the  domestic  arts.  They  sang,  too,  but  their  songs,  which  were  of 
Alsatian  coloring,  were  as  the  songs  of  those  in  exile  by  the  rivers 
of  Babylon.  A  few  boys,  too,  were  given  hand  training  in 
another  school  of  like  type.  The  other  schools  were  not  in  session 
on  the  day  of  my  visit,  for  it  was  a  holy  day,  and  in  the  midst  of 
the  somberness  of  the  streets  one  saw  girls  in  white,  with  their 
veils,  and  boys  with  the  great  white  bo\vs  upon  their  arms.  But 
the  holmess  of  the  day  did  not  deter  the  aircraft  raiders  from  their 
expeditions.  On  the  other  hand  the  raiders  did  not  deter  the 
kindly  and  ever  courteous  ministry  of  the  Prefet  and  his  wife 
Madame  Mirman. 

From  Nancy  a  journey  was  made,  by  military  car,  southward, 
now  through  a  great  manufacturing  center  where  young  women, 
donning  men's  attire,  had  taken  their  places  in  the  mills;  now 
through  a  military  rendezvous  to  and  from  which  thousands  of 
soldiers  were  moving;  now  through  village  after  village  devas- 
tated by  fire  and  shell  (including  Gerbevieller,  where  I  found  the 
famed  Sister  Julie  still  carrying  on  her  hospital  amid  the  ruins), 
on  to  St  Die,  the  village  in  the  Vosges,  where  it  is  contended  by 
high  authorities  the  name  "America  "  was  first  printed  and  put 
upon  a  map.  It  was  still  under  the  eye  of  German  guns,  though 
not  occupied  by  Germans,  and  people  pass  to  and  fro  across  the 
stream,  from  one  side  of  the  village  to  the  other,  behind  screens 
that  simulate  trees.     There  the  high  school  or  college,  used  for  a 


62 

time  as  a  hospital,  is  now  restored  in  whole  or  part  to  its  old  uses, 
and  the  people  go  their  wonted  ways  in  the  streets  free  of  the 
German  soldiers  that  for  a  little  time  filled  and  possessed  them. 
The  mayor  presented  me  with  a  copy  of  a  resolution  of  the  town 
council  which  proposed  to  name  one  of  these  streets  *  rue 
TAmerique."  A  teacher  whom  I  saw  there,  nurse  for  a  time,  is 
now  teaching  English  again,  amid  the  scars  of  war,  and  in  a 
village  not  far  away  American  women  are  beginning  to  rebuild 
the  broken  houses. 

At  Nancy  again  I  met  at  a  luncheon  the  Recteur  and  the 
deans  of  the  various  faculties,  many  of  whose  professors  spoke 
with  pride  of  their  Alsatian  origin.  I  presented  the  messages  of 
the  American  universities  and  colleges,  in  response  to  the  address 
of  the  distinguished  Recteur  (author  of  a  classical  treatise  on 
Descartes),  which  I  have  had  the  great  honor  to  carry  back  to 
America. 

ADDRESS  BY  RECTOR  ADAM 

UNIVERSITE   DE  NANCY 

In  the  name  of  the  University  of  Nancy,  which  in  1871  received  as 
a  precious  trust  the  French  faculties  of  Strasburg,  so  that  you  see  before 
you  Alsatians  as  well  as  men  of  Lorrain,  I  thank  you. 

The  universities  of  the  United  States  could  not  choose  for  bearing  to 
France  their  messages  one  who  would  be  more  sympathetic. 

You  belong,  in  fact,  to  that  elite  of  American  professors  who  have  every 
winter  for  more  than  twelve  years  come  to  teach  us  in  Paris  and  in  our  great 
university  cities  to  know  America,  its  thinkers,  its  writers,  its  poets,  and 
above  all  its  great  place  in  the  world.  For  years  we  have  been  welcom- 
ing you  to  Nancy.  What  a  happy  institution  and  how  fruitful  in  its  results! 
All  these  guests  of  a  few  weeks  have  retained  a  faithful  remembrance  of 
France.  From  the  beginning  of  the  hostilities,  they  have  never  ceased  to 
speak  in  America,  in  the  newspapers,  in  magazines,  and  in  their  books,  in 
support  of  our  country. 

There  existed  between  our  two  countrier;  old  ties  of  relationship  which 
had  been  lost.  You  have  found  them  again.  In  the  beginnings  of  your 
history,  you  have  shown  what  part  the  French  played  in  the  discovery  and 
colonization  of  the  Mississippi,  as  well  as  ihe  English  on  the  Atlantic  coast. 
You  have  inscribed  on  the  first  page  of  your  excellent  book  this  simple 
phrase  which  sums  it  up  and  which  might  be  understood  in  every  sense  of 
its  meaning,  "  The  French  in  the  Heart  of  America." 


63 

We  should  henceforth  also  be  able  to  write  a  book  which  would  be 
called,  "  The  Americans  in  the  Heart  of  France."  From  now  on  we  shall 
carry  the  Americans  in  our  hearts. 

And  it  is  not  only  because  of  the  vanguard  of  volunteers,  the  flower  of 
your  youth,  which  since  the  autumn  of  1914,  and  without  awaiting  the 
decision  of  their  government,  have  come  to  serve  in  our  ranks  in  aviation 
and  ambulance  of  the  first  line,  eager  to  become  our  comrades  in  arms. 
To  the  valor  of  these  young  men,  all  students  of  your  universities,  must  be 
added  the  good  that  has  been  done  by  your  committees,  in  which  so  many 
men  and  women  with  big  hearts  are  devoting  themselves  to  our  cause 
incessantly.  Quite  near  by,  in  the  invaded  region  an  unfortunate  people 
owe  them  their  being  saved  from  famine,  and  in  this  very  district,  in 
Meurthe-et-Moselle  and  in  the  Vosges,  you  have  come  to  the  assistance 
of  our  war  orpheuis  as  soon  as  you  heard  of  them,  no  matter  how  large 
their  number.  To  enter  our  hearts  you  have  found  the  surest  way:  you 
have  become  the  benefactors  of  our  children  and  mothers. 

You  have  come  from  a  country,  Mr  Finley,  where  more  than  with  us,  I 
believe,  the  Bible  and  the  Gospel  are  read.  Nevertheless,  in  thinking  of 
you  I  wanted  to  reread  the  parable  of  the  vineyard;  and  I  thought  of  the 
workers  of  the  first  hour,  then  the  third,  the  sixth,  the  ninth  and  finally 
the  eleventh.  But  it  is  impossible  to  apply  it  to  you.  The  difference  is 
too  great.  In  the  first  place,  we  who  were  the  first  to  enter  the  war  —  and 
you  know  it  well  —  because  we  were  threatened  and  attacked  (and  how 
savage  was  the  aggression),  we  do  not  murmur  against  those  who  were  late 
in  joining  us.  Understanding  their  reasons,  we  were  always  grateful  to 
them  for  their  sympathy,  and  today  we  welcome  them  fraternally.  On 
the  other  hand,  they,  although  convinced  that  their  assistance  will  be  deci- 
sive, feel  that  it  will  cost  them  a  long  and  hard  effort.  But,  above  all,  we 
who  endured  the  heat  of  the  day  have  not  increased  our  pretensions  as  the 
fight  progressed.  As  the  price  for  our  blood,  we  claim  only  —  as  in  the 
first  hour  —  what  is  due  us,  however,  with  the  guarantee  that  it  will  never 
again  be  taken  from  us  or  even  menaced.  As  regards  you  Americans, 
your  President,  who  is  a  former  university  professor,  has  expressed  it  nobly: 
you  have  no  hidden  selfish  thought  and  your  sole  ambition  in  this  war  is  to 
see  the  triumph  of  justice  and  liberty. 

It  is  this  high  Ideal  that  we  salute  here  unanimously,  and  which,  more 
even  than  the  comradeship  of  arms,  will  assure  in  our  two  great  republics, 
the  union  of  the  French  and  American  universities. 

Since  my  return  there  have  come  through  the  hands  of  M.  le 
Recteur  Adam,  messages  from  the  lycees  of  the  east  of  France, 
so  beautiful  in  expression  and  in  illustration  that  I  wish  I  had 
space  in  which  to  reproduce  them  all.     I  show  the  reproduction 


64 

of  two  of  them  on  an  insert,  but  I  give  here  two  others  in  transla- 
tion: one  from  the  Principal  of  the  Lycee  of  Verdun  (whose 
pupils  are  all  scattered)  and  one  from  a  pupil  in  the  College  of 
Neufchateau : 

This  message  of  springtime  and  of  hope  which  has  come  to  us  from 
across  the  Atlantic  from  Vassar  College  could  not  be  delivered  to  the  pupils 
of  the  College  of  Verdun.  It  is  to  their  Principal  that  M.  le  Recteur  of 
the  Academy  of  Nancy  has  entrusted  it.  The  scholars  and  their  professors 
are  dispersed  over  the  whole  of  France;  their  beautiful  college  is  in  ruins; 
its  terraces,  only  yesterday  blooming  with  roses,  are  today  armed  with 
cannon  and  criss-crossed  ^vith  trenches.  During  the  first  days  of  the 
invasion  many  of  them  were  forced  to  fly  from  their  flaming  villages;  some 
of  them  have  been  carried  off  into  captivity ;  one  professor  reentered  F  ranee 
only  to  die  there :  one  scholar,  after  a  slow  agony,  is  no  more, —  she  too 
a  victim  of  this  atrocious  war. 

But  through  you  —  for  your  fraternal  message  brings  us  new  con- 
fidence —  "  our  long  agony  will  be  changed  into  triumph  "  and  the  day 
draws  near  "  when  that  spirit  will  reign  which  has  known  how  to  hew  its 
way  across  all  obstacles." 

When  that  day  comes  the  message  of  the  young  girls  of  America  to 
the  young  girls  of  France  will  receive  a  place  of  honor  in  our  reconstructed 
college,  there  it  will  bear  witness  forever  that  you  did  not  wait  until  our 
country  was  completely  destroyed  to  unite  with  us  and  to  aid  us  in  re- 
building it. 

The  Principal  of  the  College  of  Verdun, 

A.  Stoltz 

Neufchateau 

Young  girls  of  America,  your  message  so  full  of  sympathy  warms  our 
hearts  just  as  the  aid  of  your  great  country  renews  our  hopes. 

I  shall  not  know  them  again,  those  somber  days  of  the  outbreak  of  the 
war,  when  the  enemy  drove  his  talons  deeper  every  day  into  the  beautiful 
land  of  France. 

Sept.  5th,  1914.  The  dusty  road  is  obstructed  with  endless  files  of 
peaceful  citizens  flying  before  the  enemy.  The  earth  trembles  under  their 
heavy  cannon.  Then  it  is  our  turn  to  leave  and  as  the  last  houses  of 
Revigny  disappear  from  view  we  give  ourselves  up  to  weeping. 

Twelve  long  days  without  news  ...  at  last  the  glorious  victory  of 
the  Marne  brings  us  back  to  our  country. 

The  partly  burned  village  is  a  desert.  Heaps  of  blackened  walls,  streets 
impassable  with  stones,  our  house  still  standing  but  empty,  the  doors  open, 
the  windows  without  panes,  our  hearts  are  torn  by  the  thought  of  the 
familiar  belongings  profanated. 

Today  in  the  splendor  of  June,  Revigny  is  reborn  to  life.  The  faithful 
inhabitants  have  returned  to  the  country.  The  houses  arise  from  behind  the 
barrier  of  our  heroic  defenders.     Soon  the  enemy  ^v'ill  be  repulsed,  since  yovir 


65 

great  people  came  to  unite  themselves  with  the  free  peoples  of  Europe,  and 
the  peace  of  reconstructed  cities  will  not  again  be  troubled,  because  you 
intend  with  us  to  reduce  the  belligerent  people  to  impotence  and  to  make 
of  this  war  the  last  war. 

Marie  Therese  Forest, 
(Born  at  Charleville,  Aug.  6th,    1899) 

Through  the  valleys  of  the  Meurthe,  the  Moselle  and  the 
Marne,  where  one  saw  many  graves  in  the  fields,  soldiers  almost 
every  rod  of  the  way,  and  observation  balloons  and  aeroplanes 
always  in  the  skies  (with  now  and  then  the  smoke  puffs  of 
exploding  shells),  I  returned  to  Paris  and  then  set  out  south- 
ward and  westward,  visiting  Dijon,  Lyons,  Grenoble,  Nimes, 
Montpellier,  Toulouse,  Bordeaux,  Poitiers,  Rennes  and  Caen, 
as  complete  a  tour  as  one  could  make,  for  Lille  was  still  beyond 
the  trenches. 

The  details  of  these  journeys  and  visits,  covering  nearly  two 
thousand  miles  and  schools  of  every  type,  can  not  here  be  pre- 
sented. I  can  do  little  else  than  give  setting  for  some  of  the 
messages  which  these  visits  evoked,  notably  the  rectorial  addresses 
which  were  made  through  me  to  the  universities  and  colleges  of 
America. 

Dijon 

At  Dijon  I  visited  first  of  all,  in  the  environs,  a  village  school, 
the  nearest  approach  to  our  rural  school,  and  was  favorably 
impressed  by  the  seriousness  and  thoroughness  of  the  provision. 

Here  is  a  brief  description  of  my  visit  to  that  school. 

As  it  was  a  Sunday  and  there  were  no  schools  to  be  seen,  I  was  driven 
to  see,  on  a  hill  a  few  miles  distant,  a  monument,  the  tribute  of  a  member 
of  Napoleon's  staff  to  his  chief.  It  represented  the  awakening  of  the 
Emperor  from  his  long  sleep,  a  fantastic  bronze  which  must  evoke  the 
thought  in  many.a  visitor  as  to  what  the  Emperor  would  say  if  only  he  could 
actually  wake  and  see  what  is  going  fiercely  on  near  his  old  Waterloo. 

But  there  proved  to  be  something  on  the  way  to  the  hill-top  grove  that 
was  to  me  of  greater  interest  than  any  memorial  of  Napoleon,  and  of  more 
promise  to  France  than  his  awakening.  It  was  a  village  school,  the  nearest 
approach  to  our  boasted  and  loved  little  red  schoolhouse.  For  there  are 
no  country  schools  in  France.  At  any  rate,  in  all  my  travels  of  twenty- 
five  hundred  miles  I  did  not  see  a  counterpart  of  our  little  lone  open-country 
frame  huts  for  which  I  am  always  looking  when  I  travel  in  my  own  State. 
The  country  schools  in  France  are  in  hamlets  or  villages  huddled  against 
a  hill  or  by  some  stream,  usually  by  a  chateau  or  a  towering  church,  wher« 
3 


66 

the  peasants  gathered  for  sheher  and  protection  and  sociabiHty  by  night,  in 
earher  days,  however  far  they  traveled  to  cultivate  their  fields  by  day. 

The  schoolmaster  w^as  sitting  in  front  of  his  schoolhouse,  his  wife 
at  his  side,  resting  in  the  afternoon  of  his  holiday,  for  the  m£ister  lives 
in  his  school,  and  the  children  are  but  his  large  family.  So  far  as  my 
limited  observation  went  the  school  was  the  schoolmaster's  home,  and  his 
business  was  quite  as  seriously  important  to  him  as  that  of  the  Minister  of 
Public  Instruction  or  of  the  Prefect  was  to  them.  His  one  room  was  a 
microcosm  of  Frauice,  and  here  her  wealth  was  represented  in  specimens 
and  her  history  remembered  in  pictures  and  in  legends  upon  the  walls. 
What  impressed  me  most  was  the  care  with  which  the  master  had  prepared 
for  his  next  week's  work.  There,  in  a  book  most  scrupulously  kept,  was  the 
whole  program,  showing  what  he  intended  to  cover  during  the  next  few 
days  in  morals,  in  civics,  in  history,  in  arithmetic,  etc.  There  is  nominally 
compulsory  attendance  up  to  the  age  of  thirteen,  but  there  is  no  such 
central  insistence  as  here.  In  looking  over  the  records  I  noticed  that  some 
days  were  clear  of  absent  marks,  while  other  columns  were  cloudy  with 
them.  I  asked  the  reasons  and  learned  that  the  fair  days  in  the  books  were 
rainy  days  outside  when  all  could  be  in  the  school,  and  that  the  cloudy 
days  in  the  book  were  fair  days  outside  when  some  had  to  be  in  the  fields. 
Which  reminds  me  of  the  observation  of  a  Sister  of  Charity,  who  said 
"  We  can  not  pray  for  God's  beautiful  moonlight  nights  since  they  are  the 
best  nights  for  the  raids  of  the  air." 

The  school  yard  was  planted  in  vegetables,  but  they  had  not  completely 
crowded  out  the  roses,  some  of  which  called  La  Gloire  de  Dijon  were  paying 
their  fragrant  summer  homage  to  the  women  of  France.  And  out  some- 
where in  the  edge  of  the  village  there  was  a  large  tract  which  the  children 
were  cultivating  as  a  school  for  the  use  of  the  community,  or  the  state,  in 
its  hunger. 

This  village  was  not  far  from  where  some  of  the  grapes  are  grown  of 
which  the  most  famous  wines  of  France  have  in  the  past  been  made,  but  in 
the  little  school  there  was  very  conspicuous  advice  in  posters  concerning  the 
ill  effects  of  alcohol. 

It  is  such  a  schoolmaster  as  this  sturdy  man  who  had  been  at  the  front 
and  had  come  back  to  his  duties  again,  who  becomes,  especially  in  such 
times  as  these,  a  representative  of  the  Government  for  giving  official  infor- 
mation to  the  people  about  matters  of  common  concern,  such  as  the  gather- 
ing of  gold,  the  subscriptions  for  such  loans  as  our  Liberty  Loan,  care  of  , 
fields,  protection  against  pests,  provision  for  orphans,  and  so  on.  And  I 
sometimes,  I  suspect,  he  is  also  the  Mayor  of  the  little  community;  at 
least  I  found  one  little  school  in  the  Mairie  where  I  had  gone  to  find  the 
parish  records  where  the  Mayor  was  teaching  the  little  group  of  boys  whose 
pictures  I  here  show.  That  was  several  years  ago,  and  I  suppose  they  are^ 
all  now  on  their  way  to  the  front  if  not  actually  there. 

I  visited  next  a  large  elementary  school  in  the  city  of  Dijon. 
There  again  I  was  struck  by  the  intense  seriousness  of  teacher  and 
pupil  in  the  work,  and  by  the  quietness  and  self-restraint  of  all. 


67 

The  teachers  were  nearly  all  women.  I  recall  one  lame  man  and 
the  sturdy  master  who  was  beyond  fifty  years  of  age.  And  I 
recall  seeing  later  in  the  day  a  wounded  teacher  who  called  him- 
self an  American  in  part  because  he  had  an  American  wooden 
leg.  But  I  saw  here,  as  elsewhere,  the  portraits  in  the  school- 
rooms of  young  men  teachers  who  had  gone  to  the  trenches  and 
had  perished  there.  Flowers  were  daily  brought  to  put  beneath 
them,  and  I  saw  in  several  rooms  this  motto : 


Men  of  France :     Your  soil 

is  defiled! 

What 

did 

you  do  yesterday? 

1  to  help, 

j  to  liberate  it 

What 

will 

you  do  today  and  tomorrow? 

Answer  the  Dead  who  question  you! 

"  Peace  through  Victory 

only  " 

These  visits  were  followed  by  a  meeting  with  the  faculties  of 
the  university  and  by  an  assembly  in  the  historic  hall  of  the  uni- 
versity, where  the  Academy  of  Dijon  had  sat  when  it  awarded 
the  prize  to  the  discourse  of  Jean  Jacques  Rousseau  on  "  The 
Influence  of  Art  and  Science  on  Morals."  Here  were  gathered 
not  only  the  professors  of  the  university,  but  teachers  from  the 
lycees  and  from  the  elementary  schools,  two  hundred  or  more, 
the  schools  having  been  dismissed  that  this  expression  might  be 
given  of  their  appreciation  of  the  messages  brought  from  America. 
Beneath  the  statues  of  Rousseau  and  Bossuet,  the  recteur  of  the 
university.  Monsieur  Boirac,  whose  studies  in  psychology  are 
known  in  this  country,  presented  in  English  an  address  which  is 
here  reproduced: 

ADDRESS  OF  RECTOR  BOIRAC 

UNIVERSITE  DE  DIJON 

Dear  Mr  Finley: 

It  is  the  second  time  that  the  University  of  Dijon  has  the  honour  of 
receiving  your  visit.  In  the  year  1911  she  heard  you,  in  an  eloquent 
lecture,  on  the  history  of  the  first  relations  of  your  country  with  ours,  when 
the  bold  French  pioneers  explored  and  colonized  the  wide  regions  of  North 
America,  thus  preparing,   many  centuries  beforehand,  the  ways  for  the 


68 

future  French-American  alliance.  Now,  at  this  solemn  hour  when  the 
great  Republic  of  the  United  States  is  going  in  its  turn  into  a  world's  war 
in  order  to  defend  by  the  side  of  the  French  Republic  and  her  allies  the 
holy  cause  of  justice  and  mankind,  you  come  to  bring  to  the  universities 
<uid  schools  of  France  the  cordial  greetings  of  the  universities  and  schools 
of  America.  With  a  deep  emotion  which  causes  our  hearts  to  vibrate  with 
gratitude,  admiration  and  most  joyous  enthusiasm,  we  accept  the  message 
of  friendship  sent  to  us  through  your  mouth,  and  we  say  to  you,  in  the 
name  of  our  university  and  our  schools:  "  Be  welcome  among  us!  " 
After  a  few  weeks,  you'll  return  to  your  country.  Tell  your  fellow  citizens 
that  we  are  profoundly  touched  by  the  marks  of  sympathy  with  which 
they  overwhelm  us;  that  we  are  proud  also  to  have  them  for  companions 
of  war  in  the  present  struggle  for  the  triumph  of  our  common  ideal,  and 
that  we  hope,  when  war  will  yield  to  peace  to  continue  to  go  with  them 
hand  in  hand  on  the  path  of  science  and  civilization.  Make  them  assured 
that  on  its  side  the  University  of  Dijon  wall  do  her  best  to  entertain  with 
American  universities  the  most  brotherly  relations  and  to  give  your  students, 
if  they  will  give  us  the  honor  of  mingling  with  ours,  the  most  affectionate 
hospitality.  We  shall  keep,  dear  Mr  Finley,  of  your  too  brief  visit  an 
unforgettable  remembrance,  and  I  dare  express  the  hope  that  you  also 
will  think  sometimes  with  pleasure  of  the  hours  spent  among  us  in  our  old 
city  of  Burgundy. 

BoiRAC 
Recteur 

(The  Rector  who  had  lost  his  son  in  the  war  and  whose  wife 
had  died  suddenly,  has  himself  gone  the  way  of  Rousseau  and 
Bossuet,  but  before  his  going  he  caused  to  be  sent  me  a 
photograph  of  the  famous  "  Salle  des  Actes,"  which  is  here 
reproduced. ) 

Many  messages  addressed  to  young  women  in  America  have 
come  from  pupils  of  the  several  classes  of  one  of  the  lycees,  some 
in  French,  some  in  English.     One  of  these  I  quote  in  part : 

"  .  .      We  trust  in  your  strength  and  devotion,  you  belong  to  a 

race  which  carries  courage  to  the  point  of  heroism.  And  you,  our  sisters, 
now  enter  a  new  life,  one  of  intense  but  noble  suffering,  and  you  enter 
it  in  spring,  the  loveliest  season  of  the  year,  when  our  hearts  open  wade 
to  beautiful  ideas  and  noble  aims.  We  trust  in  the  promises  of  the  year. 
We  girls  love  this  season  because  Nature  is  in  keeping  with  our  spirits. 
But  in  these  years  of  grim  war,  there  is  blood  on  the  white  spray;  the 
soft  beauty  of  the  twilight  reminds  us  too  much  of  the  contrast  between 
ruins  and  blossoming  trees.  The  calm  of  the  purple  evening  speaks  too 
much  of  the  great  Silence  of  Death.     But  still  spring  is  the  season  of  hope. 


"  Salle  des  Actes  "  de  rAcademie  de  Dijon  where  Rousseau  was  awarded 
the  prize  of  the  Academy  for  his  first  treatise  on  education 


69 

the  birth  of  a  new  life.  And  you,  girls  of  America,  and  we,  girls  of 
France,  are  waiting  for  the  dawn  of  a  new  Hfe,  of  a  reign  of  peace, 
and  love  among  mankind.  We,  who  have  suffered  before  you,  love  you, 
our  sisters  in  suffering. 

"  Let  us  strive  and  hope  together.  Let  us  work  and  suffer  for  the  same 
lofty  aims,  for  the  same  spring  of  a  new  and  nobler  life. 

ISABELLE   MeNERET  " 

And  I  must  quote  also  an  unusual  address  by  M.  Bataillon, 
the  dean  of  the  faculty  of  science: 

We  should  like,  Mr  Finley,  to  greet  you  in  a  worthy  manner  and  you 
wall  excuse  me  if  I  attempt  to  do  so  without  going  out  of  a  domain  which 
is  familiar  to  me.  In  my  way  I  shall  say  here,  before  you  and  before  my 
compatriots,  that  which  bears  upon  the  friendship  of  the  people,  who  are 
generously  extending  their  hands  to  us  by  bearing  witness  to  the  marvelous 
scientific  progress  achieved  within  the  last  twenty-five  years  by  the  United 
States  of  America. 

I  have  the  honor  of  representing  at  Dijon  experimental  biology,  a  branch 
in  which  your  country  excels. 

Exactly  thirteen  years  ago  you  published  a  new  periodical  destined  to 
have  a  billiant  future:  "  Le  Journal  de  Zoologie  Experimentale.''  Its 
first  number  appeared  before  the  world  of  science  under  the  patronage  of 
an  international  committee  including  three  Frenchmen.  I  was  a  member 
with  Delage  and  the  lamented  Professor  Giard.  The  publication  created 
a  great  stir,  especially  in  Germany. 

W.  Roux,  professor  at  the  University  of  Halle,  claimed  and  still  claims 
to  treat  this  domain  as  a  German  monopoly.  As  for  "  Les  Archives  du 
Mecanique  du  Developpemenl  "  which  lately  brought  together  the 
researches  of  the  world,  to  which  I,  together  with  my  American  and 
Italian  colleagues,  have  contributed,  should  they  lose  a  preeminence  pain- 
fully won? 

The  concern  of  Roux  showed  itself  at  first  by  an  insidious  question: 

"  Why,"  he  asked  your  Harrison,  "  does  Le  Journal  de  Zoologie 
Experimentale  "  appear  without  an  index?  The  admirable  answer  Harri- 
son gave  him  was:  "The  index?  Why,  you  have  given  it  in  your 
Archives." 

And  in  fact,  Roux  had  elaborated  and  remade  this  large  and  bulky 
index  so  encumbered  with  abstractions  and  so  inaccessible  to  the  common 
people  that  it  was  necessary  to  explain  it  with  a  glossary  of  several  hundred 
pages. 


70 

These  were  the  obstacles  that  our  American  colleagues  had  to  meet. 

When  a  periodical  makes  its  first  appearance  in  the  "  Memoires  sur  It 
Dentale  el  la  Patelle  " ;  when  these  "  Memoires  "  bear  the  signature  of  the 
same  E.  Wilson  to  whom  we  owe  the  valuable  research  work  on  the 
Amphioxus  and  which  illustrate  today  his  great  cytologic  studies  on  sex: 
this  is  progress  which  asserts  itself,  it  is  the  immediate  conquest  of  the 
dominant  positions.  I  purposely  underscore  the  results  whose  high  import- 
ance even  among  us  has  not  always  been  understood. 

And,  by  one  concrete  example  alone,  is  defined  the  position  of  American 
biology  as  opposed  to  German  biology. 

This  position,  Roux  believed  menacing  for  his  country.  And  some 
months  before  the  great  war,  he  uttered  a  cry  of  alarm.  "  We  Germans," 
he  wrote,  in  substance,  "  in  this  domain  which  is  ours,  we  are  going  to  find 
ourselves  outstripped  [by  the  United  States]  if  We  are  not  already." 

He  concluded,  following  the  tradition  by  an  appeal  to  the  public  powers. 
He  urgently  requested  the  Imperial  Government  for  the  millions  of  marks 
necessary  for  the  creation  of  an  immense  mechanical  institution  of  develop- 
ment in  which  would  be  brought  together  all  the  technical  resources  for 
pure  scientific  research  and  the  study  of  its  applications. 

Gentlemen,  I  am  not  of  those  who  believe  in  the  omnipotence  of  the 
ashlar,  and  when  I  think  of  our  hecatombs,  I  have  a  very  clear  impression 
that  the  only  ashlars  whose  need  will  be  felt  tomorrow  —  will  be  men. 

These  men  whom  we  shall  lack,  your  great  republic  has,  and  science 
counts  on  them. 

But  why  am  I  obsessed  by  an  old  proverb:  "  No  man  is  a  prophet  in 
his  own  country."     Is  this  current  coin  in  the  United  States  as  in  France? 

You  surround  with  attentions  and  with  honors  the  eminent  strangers  who 
benefit  by  your  generous  hospitality.  Such  biological  fame  appears  to  us 
from  here,  encircled  by  a  shining  aureole.  This  generosity  honors  you  and 
delights  the  men  of  science  the  world  over. 

But  the  impartial  spectator  finds  in  your  schools,  national  products  equal 
in  value  to  all  your  imported  products.  The  country  which,  in  an  almost 
new  branch,  possesses  men  like  Wilson,  Morgan,  Harrison,  Davenport, 
Castle,  Conklin,  Whitman,  Parker  et  al.  (I  do  not  attempt  to  enumerate 
them  —  so  numerous  are  they)  ;  the  country  in  which  a  body  of  earnest 
women  unravels  successfully  the  most  delicate  and  the  most  intricate  prob- 
lems; that  country  has  no  reason  to  envy  the  Old  World. 

Also  hospitable  France  is  profoundly  touched  by  your  fraternal  manner. 
With  full  heart,  we  accept  the  powerful  collaboration  which  you  offer  us. 
In  certain  domains  we  shall  be  perhaps  your  debtors;  we  shall  attempt  to 


71 

make  up  for  it  in  others.  If  we  have  the  good  fortune  to  draw  your  young 
men  to  our  laboratories,  they  will  receive  here  the  most  cordial,  the  warmest 
welcome.  I  add  that  even  in  Burgundy  in  our  little  Thebaide,  they  will 
find  all  the  resources  needed  for  free  and  profitable  research. 

But  why  should  I  leave  my  role  of  bearing  witness? 

United  to  your  democracy  for  progress,  as  for  the  defense  of  liberty,  we 
greet  with  affectionate  recognition  the  eminent  messenger  from  the  co-workers 
across  the  sea. 

We  offer  our  tribute  of  admiration  and  our  most  cordial  good  wishes  to 
American  thought,  and  (since  a  biologist  benefits  by  the  word)  to  the 
privileged  country  which  has  become  and  will  remain  "  The  Eden  of  the 
Sciences  of  Life." 

Lyons 

At  Lyons  I  was  escorted  by  the  committee  of  learned  men 
who  met  me  at  the  station,  to  the  city  hall,  where  the  mayor, 
M.  Herriot,  a  man  of  great  ability  and  fame,  offered  every 
courtesy  within  his  reach.  Of  this  I  took  advantage  to  visit, 
first  of  all,  the  excellent  school  established  by  the  city  of  Lyons 
for  the  reeducation  of  the  mutilated  soldiers.  It  is  a  work  to 
which  a  small  volume  might  be  devoted  (and  concerning  which 
a  volume^  received  since  my  return  has  been  written.  I  present  an 
illustration  intimating  the  achievement  of  this  notable  educational 
offspring  of  the  war).  Other  schools  of  especial  interest  which 
I  visited,  in  company  with  the  mayor's  representative,  M.  Giourju, 
a  member  of  the  conseil  general,  were  those  established,  with 
private  aid,  for  the  vocational  training  of  boys  and  girls.  Par- 
ticularly striking  was  the  work  done  by  the  boys  in  mathematics 
and  mechanical  drawing  far  beyond  that  which  is  customary 
with  us. 

Later  a  meeting  of  all  the  faculties  of  the  University  was  held, 
the  dean  of  the  Faculty  of  Law,  M.  Josserand,  presiding  in  the 
absence  of  the  Recteur,  M.  Joubin.  The  American  addresses 
were  presented,  with  the  assistance  of  M.  Thomas,  the  efficient 
Professor  of  English.  The  Recteur  later  sent  an  address,  which 
follows  that  of  Dean  Josserand : 

^  Une  Ecole  de  Reeducation  Professionelle  det  Grands  Blesses  de  la  Guerre,  Tourvielle 
par  Gustave  Hirschfeld. 


11 


ADDRESS  BY  DEAN  JOSSERAND 
Mr  President,  Gentlemen  and  dear  Colleagues: 

In  the  absence  of  the  rector,  who  by  reason  of  official  duties  has  been 
called  away  from  Lyon,  I  have  the  great  honor  to  receive  today,  in  the 
name  of  the  university,  the  eminent  Commissioner  of  Education  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  who  will  devote  to  us  a  few  brief  moments  in  the 
course  of  the  pilgrimage  which  he  is  making  in  our  principal  university 
centers. 

While  extending  a  welcome  to  our  illustrious  visitor  I  regret  that  no  other 
authorized  voice  but  mine  should  be  heard  within  these  wadls ;  you  will  all 
believe  me  if  I  tell  you  that  I  am  overcome  with  emotion.  Like  you,  my 
dear  colleagues,  I  feel  that  President  John  Finley  does  not  pay  us  a 
common  fraternal  visit;  what  he  brings  us  here,  with  all  the  weight  of  his 
high  office  and  all  the  buoyancy  of  his  soul,  is:  the  greeting  of  America, 
the  great  republic,  which  has  joined  hands  with  her  older  sister  and  which 
will  not  loosen  this  clasp,  until  at  length  our  common  aim  shall  be  real- 
ized —  the  destruction  of  an  unjust  force  by  the  triumph  of  justice  which 
at  last  has  become  strong,  by  the  triumph  of  right. 

For,  Mr  Finley,  the  President  of  your  great  republic  has  said  in 
undying  words,  great  as  the  cataclysm  which  has  come  upon  humanity, 
"  Right  is  more  precious  than  peace  "!  Who  then  could,  without  emotion, 
in  the  tragical  hours  in  which  we  live  and  in  this  house  of  justice  recollect 
this  admirable  word  which  forever  will  refute  the  impious  variations  which 
the  philosophers  beyond  the  Rhine  amplify  with  an  infernal  delight,  about 
the  theme  of  Force,  Violence  and  Necessity.  This  work  which  you  bring 
to  us,  Mr  President,  will  be  a  living  commentary  —  It  is  vibrant  in  the 
flags  which  mingle  their  colors  at  the  front  of  this  building;  it  will  be  the 
light  toward  which  we  turn,  as  it  will  become  the  war  cry  of  our  brave 
soldiers.  And  later  it  will  be  a  rallying  sign  for  both  of  our  countries  — 
for  I  know  you  feel  that  our  entente  must  not  be  limited  to  the  duration  of 
the  war;  forged  in  the  fire  of  action,  our  friendship  will  not  cool  off  when 
peace  comes;  it  will  only  consolidate  the  two  peoples  and  especially  the 
universities  of  the  two  countries  will  always  draw  more  tightly  the  bonds 
woven  in  the  noise  of  cannons;  we  wish  to  enter  into  the  soul  of  America 
just  as  you  seek  to  know  the  soul  of  France  and  infinitely  profitable  rela- 
tions will  be  established  or  intensified  between  our  intellectual  centers.  We 
like  to  think  that  your  professors  in  ever  increasing  numbers  will  cross  the 
Atlantic,  just  as  you  welcome  with  your  warm  hospitality  those  of  us  who 
will  carry  the  French  word  to  the  other  side  of  the  ocean,  and  the  students, 


Illustialion  of  what  is  being  done  to  equip  mutilated  soldiers  for  useful 
employment  again 


73 

following  the  example  of  their  teachers,  will  without  any  doubt  vie  with 
each  other  in  the  great  intellectual  contest  which  will  vivify  science  for  the 
widest  benefit  in  methods,  applications  and  ideals. 

Should  I  be  accused  of  drawing  a  too  optimistic  sketch  of  what  will  be 
after  the  war,  my  answer  would  be  that  the  present  suffices  to  caution  the 
future;  has  not  a  plan  of  exchange  just  been  created  by  the  initiative  of  a 
great  American,  for  the  profit  of  our  French  students,  and  have  not  various 
committees  already  been  formed  with  the  aim  of  intensifying  the  university 
life  of  our  two  countries?  Good  wishes  come  to  us  from  all  over.  When 
men  like  you,  Mr  Finley,  take  such  a  noble  cause  in  hand,  when  they  are 
seconded  in  their  efforts  by  a  whole  nation  alert  to  intellectual  pursuits,  the 
game  is  now  in  advance.  No!  the  students  of  free  America,  the  students 
of  all  civilized  peoples,  will  not  wish  to  go  and  ask  for  lessons  in  culture 
at  universities  where  conventions  are  but  scraps  of  paper,  from  philosophers 
who  teach  that  "  Right  is  the  politics  of  force,"  that  necessity  knows  no 
law.  This  terrible  war  will  at  least  have  had  this  advantage,  that  of 
removing  the  masks  and  of  offsetting  civiHzation  against  "  Kultur,"  the 
fetish  of  Force  against  the  worship  of  Right.  It  will  suffice  to  draw  the 
logical  conclusions  of  this  situation,  now  in  its  clearness,  and  this  will  be 
the  privilege  of  Americans,  such  as  you,  Mr  Finley,  to  have  sown  in  greater 
storm  the  harvest  which  will  soon  be  gathered. 

Therefore  we  bid  you  welcome,  Mr  President,  and  we  beg  you  to  accept 
our  gratitude  for  your  faithful  and  devoted  work,  for  the  cordial  sympathy 
which  you  feel  with  our  country  and  our  universities,  and  we  hope  that 
when  you  return  to  New  York  you  will  kindly  carry  to  your  fellow  country- 
men what  you  have  witnessed  in  France,  especially  in  Lyon,  of  hearts 
beating  in  unison  with  yours;  we  hope  that  you  will  also  consent  to  carry 
to  the  American  universities  the  sincere  greetings  of  the  universities  of 
France,  and  we  wish  to  express  to  the  highest  authority  in  your  country  our 
admiration  and  devotion. 

You  have  said,  Mr  President,  that  the  French  are  in  the  heart  of 
America;  be  assured  that  the  Americans  are  and  will  remain  deep  in  the 
bleeding  heart,  the  heart  of  France  —  France  forever  grateful ! 

ADDRESS  BY  RECTOR  JOUBIN 

UNIVERSITE  DE  LYON 

L^on,  June  9,  1917 
The  University  of  Lyon  to  the  Universities  of  the  United  States: 

The  University  of  Lyon,  met  in  general  assembly  on  June  5,  1917,  to 
welcome  Mr  John  Finley,  Commissioner  of  Education  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  after  having  heard  the  messages  coming  from  the  highest  authorities 


74 

of  the  United  States  and  especially  its  universities,  expresses  to  them  its 
great  gratitude;  it  sends  to  the  universities  of  America  its  cordial  and 
affectionate  greeting;  it  expresses  the  wish  that  the  present  trial,  met  and 
overcome  together,  may  contribute  to  make  more  intimate  the  intellectual 
bonds  which  have  traditionally  existed  between  the  two  countries;  it  hopes 
that  the  exchanges  of  professors  and  students  between  the  universities  of 
the  two  sides  of  the  Atlantic  will  become  more  numerous,  to  the  great 
advantage  of  science  whose  ideal,  methods  and  application  can  only  gain 
by  such  reciprocal  penetration;  it  addresses  its  thanks,  stirred  by  this 
ejcpression,  to  the  intellectual  and  great  philanthropies  of  America  whose 
active  sympathy  and  generosity  contribute  toward  a  realization  of  this  pene- 
tration ;  it  sends  especially  its  sympathetic  remembrance  to  the  distinguished 
professors  and  the  young  instructors  in  English  who  during  these  last  years 
have  brought  the  good  American  word  to  our  city;  and  finally  —  adopting 
the  admirable  word  of  President  Wilson  that  "  Right  is  more  precious  than 
peace  "  —  confident  in  the  efficiency  of  the  inestimable  aid  brought  to  the 
cause  of  justice  by  the  United  States,  it  expresses  the  hope  that,  thanks  to 
the  awakening  of  the  conscience  of  all  civilized  people,  the  allied  nations 
will  continue  unflinchingly  the  hard  task  before  them  until  the  peaceful 
reign  of  right  shall  have  been  definitely  established. 

JOUBIN 

Recteur 

There  has  come  to  me  since  my  return  a  little  book  of  messages 
in  verse  from  women  in  the  university  addressed  to  the  young 
women  of  America.  I  reproduce  one  of  these  messages  in  the 
original  with  the  preface  in  translation. 

The  students  of  the  University  of  Lyon  are  happy  to  respond  to  the 
gracious  message  of  the  young  girls  of  America  vsith  a  message  of  warm 
sympathy  and  common  hope. 

Why  should  we  not  love  each  other?  Americans,  in  the  dawn  of  their 
history,  have  seen  the  French,  under  the  leadership  of  Lafayette  and  of 
Rochambeau,  bleed  and  die  for  American  liberty.  Several  years  later, 
the  Constituent  Assembly  inscribed,  in  its  famous  Declaration,  the  great 
principles  which  Washington  had  solemnly  proclaimed  to  the  Congress  of 
Philadelphia. 

The  people  of  your  great  country  did  not  wait  for  the  official  entry  of 
America  into  the  war  to  send  to  the  Allies  their  gold  and  especially  to  give 
their  blood.  We  shall  honor  them  as  much  as  our  own  dead,  these  who 
have  voluntarily  sacrificed  all  for  France;  they  can  all  pronounce  the  proud 
words  of  Kenneth  Weeks  who  said  to  his  friends  in  enlisting: 


75 

"  I  have  always  loved  France  with  a  great  love;  now  that  she  is  in 
danger  I  can  prove  to  her  my  fidelity." 

And  they  who  have  fallen  bravely  are  numerous,  like  Harold  Chapin, 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Loos,  like  Alan  Seeger  killed  at  Belloy-en-Santerre, 
July  4,  1916,  after  having  written  to  his  mother: 

"  Mother,  if  I  do  not  return,  be  proud  as  a  Spartan  mother.  Death, 
after  all,  is  not  so  terrible.  It  signifies,  perhaps,  something  still  more 
beautiful  than  life." 

On  the  second  of  last  April,  the  union  of  America  and  of  France  was 
sealed  by  the  noble  message  of  President  Wilson  who,  in  the  name  of  your 
people,  consecrated  America  to  the  struggle  of  right  and  justice  to  bring 
liberty  to  the  world.     And  henceforth,  following  the  word  of  M.  Ribot: 

"  The  starry  flag  will  wave  beside  the  tri-color,  our  hands  and  our 
hearts  will  be  joined  to  fight  in  unison." 

A  L'AMERIQUE  EN  ARMES 
Salut!  grande  Amerique,  6  sceur  de  notre  France! 
Ton  amitie  loyale  est  pour  nous  I'esperance.  .  . 
Du  pays  mutile  tu  vis  couler  les  pleurs 
Que  sur  le  so  sacre  faisait  repandre,  infame. 
La  horde  criminelle,  insensible  a  tout  blame, 

Des  ennemis  devastateurs ! 
Nos  soldats  sont  tombes,  fauches  comme  des  herbes, 
Tous  courageux  et  fiers,  heros  nobles,  superbes, 
Courant  pleins  d'allegresse  au  devant  du  trepas.  .  . 
Dans  leur  elan  sublime  ils  ont  I'ardeur  du  juste, 
Et  disent  en  ralant,  mot  supreme  et  auguste: 

^^  La  France  ne  perira  pas !  ^^ 
Maintenant,  Amerique,  au  sang  de  ces  victimes, 
Le  sang  de  tes  Enfants  s'unit,  vengeur  des  crimes; 
Heros  aussi,  puisqu'ils  n'ont  pas  peur  de  souffrir. 
La  Gloire  de  ces  preux  sera  le  mausolee, 
Car  ils  auront  montre,  dans  la  sainte  melee, 

Qu'ils  savent,  eux  aussi,  mourir! 
Ce  n'est  pas  seulement  sur  les  champs  de  carnage 
Qu'au  monde  tu  fais  voir  ce  que  peut  ton  courage; 
Les  guerriers  ne  sont  pas  qu'au  milieu  des  combats: 
Par  vos  efforts  hardis,  hommes,  enfants  et  femmes. 
Qui  ne  connaissez  pas  les  villages  en  flammes, 

Vous  devenez  tous  des  soldats! 

Therese  Lion, 

Licenciee  es  lettres  (anglais) 


76 

Grenoble 

At  Grenoble  I  was  met  at  midnight  by  the  hospitable  com- 
mittee with  the  most  amiable  recteur,  M.  Coulet,  at  its  head. 
The  charm  of  this  place  is  known  throughout  Europe  and  should 
be  throughout  America.  Its  university  has  offered  special  induce- 
ments to  foreigners  in  language  courses,  and  its  environment  of 
mountains  capped,  some  of  them,  with  snow,  continues  to  offer 
physical  inducements.  In  the  early  morning,  at  six  o'clock,  I 
saw  the  young  men  of  the  1918  class  who  had  been  called  to 
the  colors,  at  their  rigorous  drill  on  the  tree-encircled  esplanade 
along  the  Isere,  beneath  the  towering  cliffs,  and  strong  sturdy 
youth  they  seemed,  and  wonderfully  alert.  What  I  saw  there 
is  doubtless  typical  of  all  departments  of  France. 

There  was  opportunity  to  visit  one  of  the  schools  for  the  train- 
ing of  teachers  (and  there  every  student  takes  English  through 
the  course)  before  I  attended  the  special  assembly,  which  was 
called  to  welcome  an  American  with  messages  from  the  Presi- 
dent and  from  the  universities  and  colleges.  The  hall  was  filled 
by  university  professors  and  students,  by  teachers  and  pupils  from 
the  schools,  and  by  citizens,  all  or  most  of  whom  seemed  to  under- 
stand English,  and  with  them  were  a  few  Americans  in  study 
there.  The  girls  from  the  teachers  training  school  sang 
"America  "  in  English  as  well  as  their  own  "  Marseillaise  "  in 
French  and  the  Recteur  made  an  eloquent  address,  which,  despite 
the  personal  references,  I  present  in  translation  to  my  American 
audience : 

ADDRESS  BY  RECTOR  COULET 
Ladies  and  Gentlemen: 

I  have  requested  you  to  assemble  here  in  order  to  receive  Mr  John 
Finley,  Commissioner  of  Education  and  President  of  The  University  of 
the  State  of  Nev^  York.  Once  before  Mr  Finley  has  been  the  guest  at  the 
University  of  Grenoble  and  undoubtedly  more  than  one  among  you  remem- 
bers the  conferences  which  he  gave  there  under  the  auspices  of  the  Harvard 
Foundation. 

His  visit  today  has  another  object.  The  day  after  the  great  American 
republic  had  deliberately  taken  a  stand  by  our  side  and  by  that  of  our 
allies  for  the  defense  of  right  and  the  liberty  of  peoples,  Mr  Finley  crossed 
the  Atlantic  to  bring  us  the  greeting  of  the  universities,  colleges  and  schools 


77 

of  the  United  States,  to  tell  us  in  what  spirit  they  have  received  the  decision 
of  the  federal  government,  the  faith  which  they  also  have  in  the  victory, 
and  the  hopes  they  set  in  the  triumph  of  the  common  ideal,  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  new  order  for  the  benefit  of  a  better  humanity. 

That  you  appreciate  with  me  the  nobility  of  the  deed  and  the  extent  of 
the  action,  I  wish  first  of  all  to  persuade  our  guest  of  today. 

The  Minister  of  Public  Instruction  on  receiving  Mr  Finley  took  notice 
of  the  speeches  with  which  he  was  commissioned  but  as  they  ought  to  go  to 
all  those  for  whom  they  are  really  intended  —  to  all  the  schools  of  France, 
to  their  teachers,  to  their  students,  to  their  pupils  —  Mr  Finley  brings  them 
to  the  universities  of  the  provinces  after  having  delivered  them  to  the 
University  of  Paris. 

And  that  is  also  why  our  university  does  not  wish  to  keep  for  herself 
alone  the  honor  which  she  has  received.  She  begs  you  to  join  with  her  to 
hear  these  voices  which  come  from  America  so  that  in  your  turn  you  can 
spread  them  and  they  can  awake  in  all  hearts  the  echo  which  should  answer 
them. 

Thus  is  explained.  Sir,  the  presence  in  this  hall  of  personal  represen- 
tatives of  the  faculties,  colleges  and  schools  of  Grenoble,  of  their  students 
and  of  their  pupils,  all  united  in  the  desire  to  thank  you  for  having  come 
to  us. 

The  welcome  which  I  have  the  honor  of  wishing  you  in  their  name  is 
full  of  admiration  and  gratitude:  admiration  for  your  country  which  has 
so  greatly  done  itself  honor  by  showing  its  intentions  as  it  has  just  done, 
gratitude  to  those  who  have  entrusted  to  you  the  mission  which  you  fill  so 
worthily,  gratitude  also  to  yourself  for  the  share  which  you  have  had  in 
the  change  of  opinion  which  has  come  to  pass  in  the  United  States  from 
the  neutrality  of  recent  times  to  the  brotherhood  of  today. 

In  presenting  my  compliments  to  .  .  .  Mr  Finley  ...  in 
in  greeting  him  as  the  envoy  of  the  universities,  of  the  colleges  and  of  the 
schools  of  America,  I  invite  you,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  to  greet  also  one  of 
the  best  friends  of  France. 

This  friendship  you  had  shown  to  us  for  a  long  time  by  asserting  your 
belief  in  the  French  method  of  teaching,  by  placing  very  high  the  spirit 
which  inspires  it,  the  worth  of  its  teachers,  the  importance  of  the  French 
contribution  to  the  progress  of  human  knowledge. 

It  is  your  great  William  James  who  said,  "  The  excess  of  technicality 
and  the  dryness  resulting  from  it  are  appalling  in  the  young  students  of 
American  universities.  This  technicality,  this  dryness  influences  them  so 
they  follow  too  closely  the  models  and  methods  of  Germany." 


78 

And  he  added:  "  What  is  rare  is  to  find  a  particular  point  of  view 
joined  to  an  extreme  clearness  in  the  power  of  bringing  into  play  the  whole 
critical  preparation  necessary  to  show  thoughts." 

This  ideal  is  that  very  one  to  which  all  our  system  of  education  tends, 
that  which,  according  to  Mr  James,  our  scholars  and  our  thinkers  have 
realized. 

Another  of  your  fellow  countrymen  while  characterizing  our  teaching 
methods,  informs  us  of  the  reasons  for  the  feeling  which  you  have  never 
ceased  to  show  for  them.  "  French  teaching,"  says  Mr  Barrett  Wendell, 
"  combines  in  so  admirable  a  way  precision  and  breadth  of  view,  it  so 
calls  attention  to  detail  yet  endeavors  to  keep  everything  in  accord  with  the 
great  underlying  principles,  that  it  seems  more  inspiring  than  any  other 
system  of  which  we  know." 

It  is  in  truth  for  that,  that  French  science  is  noted.  It  is  because  of  that 
quality  that  you,  as  well  as  William  James  and  Barrett  Wendell,  have 
kept  washing  for  a  closer  union  of  the  American  point  of  view  and  the 
French  universities  and  sciences. 

I  have  intentionally  quoted  from  others,  statements  of  the  reasons  for 
our  common  sympathies  in  order  to  associate  them  with  our  gratitude  to 
you.  But  it  is  you  only  we  thank  for  one  thing  —  your  personal  effort  to 
bring  about  the  intellectual  union  of  France  and  America. 

In  the  first  place,  you  have  been  associated  with  that  movement  which, 
each  year,  brings  us  one  or  more  professors  from  the  American  universities. 
One  very  precious  result  of  this  has  been  the  increase  of  the  bonds  of  per- 
sonal relationship  between  the  scholars  of  the  two  countries.  It  is  as 
exchange  professor  that  the  University  of  Grenoble  had  the  honor  of 
receiving  you  some  years  ago. 

You  have  again  shown  your  active  sympathy  with  French  methods  of 

instruction  in  the  management  of  that  great  institution  of  which  you  have 

been  until  these  last  years,  the  president  of  the  College  of  the  City  of 

New  York. 

***** 

From  the  first  day  you  have  been  with  our  great  friends,  with  your 
former  ambassadors,  Robert  Bacon  and  Myron  T.  Herrick,  with  the 
venerated  Charles  Eliot,  president  emeritus  of  Harvard  University,  with 
President  Nicholas  Murray  Butler,  with  President  Lawrence  Lowell, 
with  so  many  others  whose  names  are  graven  on  our  hearts.  Your  friend- 
ship without  stopping  has  passed  through  halting  places  that  others  have 
had  to  cross  more  slowly. 

You  had  seen  from  the  start  where  the  right  was  and  where  lay  the 
duty  of  America.  A  certain  impatience  one  might  think  must  have  animated 
you. 


79 

You  who  had  reckoned  so  largely  on  the  debt  of  the  United  States  to 
France,  you  at  times  must  have  feared  that  they  would  let  pass  the  opportu- 
nity to  pay  off  this  indebtedness. 

You  may,  however,  be  assured.  Long  before  America  entered  the 
war  we  found  what  American  neutrality  for  France  was.  Its  debt  your 
country  has  paid  by  the  assistance  which  it  has  given  us  from  the  first  day 
in  the  most  various  forms;  assistance  to  our  wounded,  aid  to  the  peoples 
of  the  invaded  districts,  restoration  of  devastated  regions,  adoption  of  the 
orphans  of  the  war.  On  the  other  hand,  many  of  your  young  men,  not 
awaiting  the  decision  of  their  country,  have  come  to  us  as  doctors,  aviators, 
as  fighters,  and  how  many  already  have  died  for  us! 

But  now  be  wholly  content.  The  declaration  of  President  Wilson, 
affirming  the  resolutions  of  America,  frees  you  from  all  indebtedness  and 
forever. 

A  pride  comes  to  us,  you  will  pardon  the  expression,  that  on  these  lands 
of  which  a  part  was  formerly  French  you  have  been  able  to  raise  such  a 
harvest  of  generosity  and  noble  idealism. 

In  your  name,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  have  I  greeted  Mr  John  Finley  as 
one  of  the  best  friends  of  our  country. 

To  the  universities,  colleges  and  American  schools  from  which  he  brings 
us  greetings,  we  can  give  assurance  that  they  could  not  have  chosen  an 
ambassador  more  agreeable  to  us  nor  nearer  to  our  hearts. 

To  the  Universities,  Colleges  and  Schools  of  the  United  States: 

For  many  days  all  France  has  followed  with  passionate  admiration  the 
noble  proceedings  of  the  great  American  Republic  in  the  midst  of  the 
grave  events  which  have  led  her  to  take  freely  her  part  of  danger  and  of 
honor  in  the  immense  world  conflict. 

Grenoble  claims  the  honor  of  always  having  felt  an  ardent  sympathy  for 
the  American  colleges  and  schools.  For  the  last  years  numerous  teachers 
and  students  have  crossed  the  ocean  to  come  to  us,  have  passed  through  or 
remained  in  our  Dauphiny  University,  learned  men  who  have  taught  in 
our  chairs,  young  people  who  have  sat  under  the  instruction  of  our  faculties 
and  who  all,  after  they  left  us,  have  remained  our  friends. 

We  greet  the  great  democracy  of  the  United  States,  which  has  arisen 
in  a  sublime  rapture,  to  avenge  the  violated  rights,  the  outraged  human  con- 
science, the  beauty  of  the  world  odiously  profaned,  and  which  will  not 
lay  down  its  arms  until  the  ideal  of  justice  and  of  peace,  so  magnificently 
proclaimed  by  President  Wilson  in  his  speech  at  the  Capitol,  is  realized. 


80 

We  greet  the  teachers  and  the  students  who,  from  both  sides  of  the 
ocean  offer  the  best  they  have  —  the  genius  of  their  race,  their  strength, 
their  thought,  their  heart  and  their  blood  —  and  who  thus  seal  the  holy 
union  of  the  free  and  civilized  peoples. 

We  greet  the  American  universities,  always  the  advance  guard  of 
Knowledge  and  Duty!  We  greet  all  the  colleges  and  all  the  schools  of 
the  United  States  of  America ! 

COULET 

Recteur 

Montpellier 

From  Grenoble  I  went  to  Valence  (where  I  had  opportunity, 
between  trains  only,  for  a  conference  with  the  inspector  for  that 
district,  who  most  courteously  came  to  the  station  to  spend  the 
brief  time  with  me,  and  who  has  since  sent  a  cordial  message  from 
one  of  his  lycees),  then  by  way  of  Tarascon  to  Nimes,  where  I 
visited  a  very  good  lycee  situated  between  the  famous  amphi- 
theater and  the  no  less  famous  Maison  Carree.  Here  I  found 
fifty  or  more  Serbians,  all  pursuing  the  same  courses  as  the  French 
students  but  under  their  Serbian  master.  The  boys  occupied 
dormitories  in  the  lycee  and  also  assisted  in  tilling  the  fields,  for 
the  students  were  farming  a  large  plot  in  the  environs  of  the  city. 
Here  I  saw,  too,  for  the  first  time,  premilitary  and  physical  train- 
ing going  forward,  though  I  nowhere  saw  any  such  gymnasium 
provision  as  is  made  in  many  places  in  the  United  States.  And 
I  here  saw  also  evidences  of  the  undertaking  of  medical  inspection, 
which  will  doubtless  be  made  general  and  compulsory  though 
now  it  seems  to  be  left  to  the  determination  of  the  authorities  of 
each  school. 

Then  on  to  Montpellier.  There  again,  after  hours  of  visi- 
tation which  included  a  hospital  for  the  wounded  soldiers  and  the 
medical  school  of  medieval  fame  (where  I  saw  among  other 
interesting  memorabilia  the  gown  of  Rabelais) ,  I  was  received 
by  the  faculties  of  the  university,  and  was  asked  by  the  Recteur, 
who  is  the  dean  of  French  rectors,  and  has  served  France  with 
special  distinction  in  several  posts,  to  carry  back  the  following 
message : 


81 


ADDRESS  BY  RECTOR  BENOIST 

ACADEMIE   DE  MONTPELLIER 

Montpellier,  June  8,  1917 
The  Rector  of  the  University  of  Montpellier  to  Mr  John  Finky,  President 
of  The  University  of  the  State  of  Neiv  York 

Dear  Mr  Finley: 

At  the  moment  of  your  leaving  France  to  return  to  America,  I  wish  to 
express  to  you  in  the  name  of  the  University  of  MontpelHer,  our  sympathy 
with  the  great  American  RepubHc,  from  which  you  brought  us  a  message 
at  our  meeting  of  yesterday,  June  seventh. 

Like  all  Frenchmen,  the  members  of  our  university  hailed  with  enthu- 
siasm the  entering  of  the  United  States  in  the  great  conflict  which  divides 
the  world.  It  has  been  a  joy  for  them  to  think  that  as  in  the  days  of 
Washington  and  Lafayette,  Frenchmen  and  Americans  will  fight  side  by 
side  for  the  cause  of  liberty. 

But  it  is  not  enough  that  our  two  countries  should  be  united  during  the 
war.  It  is  necessary  that  they  be  united  when,  after  the  conclusion  of 
peace,  the  universities  will  devote  themselves  with  new  ardor  to  their 
scientific  tasks.  We  hope  that,  thanks  to  the  establishment  of  fellowships, 
it  will  be  possible  to  create  between  our  universities  and  yours,  systematic 
relations  which  will  be  profitable  for  our  two  countries,  and  no  less  profit- 
able to  science  and  civilization. 

Our  university  will  remember  the  visit  with  which  you  have  honored  it 
and  in  which  it  sees  the  pledge  of  durable  and  fruitful  understanding 
between  the  two  countries. 

Antoine  Benoist 

Recieur 
Toulouse 

I  traveled  by  night  past  Carcassonne  (which  I  saw  in  the  moon- 
light), to  Toulouse,  and  there  spent  a  good  part  of  the  day  in 
visiting  an  ecole  primaire  superieure,  that  is,  a  school  whose  course 
extends  three  years  beyond  the  six  years  of  the  primary,  cor- 
responding in  period  and  purpose  to  our  so-called  junior  high 
school  (and  there  I  found,  by  the  way,  such  a  course  in  general 
science,  admirably  taught,  as  I  have  hoped  we  might  initiate  in 
the  same  period  here)  ;  an  ecole  normale,  in  the  environs  of  the 
city;  and  a  school,  the  first  of  the  sort  that  I  had  seen,  for  the 
training  of  boys  and  girls  for  special  war  industries.     Toulouse 


82 

is  swollen  in  population  by  such  industries.  Forty  thousand  men 
and  women  are  employed  in  the  powder  works  alone,  I  am  told. 
In  the  late  afternoon  I  was  received  by  the  officers  and  pro- 
fessors of  the  university  in  the  presence  of  the  mayor,  the  prefet's 
representative,  and  an  audience  of  teachers  and  citizens  that  filled 
to  overflowing  the  university  hall.  In  the  absence  of  the  Recteur, 
who  had  been  mobilized  as  an  expert  in  explosives,  and  was 
serving  in  Paris,  I  was  welcomed  by  the  Dean  of  the  Faculty  of 
Letters,  M.  Dumas,  whose  particular  message  to  the  universities 
and  colleges  following  his  more  personal  address  was  as  follows : 

ADDRESS  BY  ACTING  RECTOR  DUMAS 

UNIVERSITE   DE  TOULOUSE 

Toulouse,  June  15,  1917 
The  university  and  the  educational  institutions  of  Toulouse  are  happy  to 
address  their  warm  thanks  to  President  Wilson,  who  will  mark  his  place 
in  history  beside  Washington  and  Lincoln,  to  President  Roosevelt,  whose 
energy  France  has  always  admired,  to  the  American  universities  and  schools, 
for  the  very  sympathetic  and  cordial  messages  which  they  have  sent  and 
which  their  eminent  representative,  Mr  John  Finley,  has  known  how  to 
interpret  with  so  much  feeling.  They,  in  their  turn,  give  assurance  that 
they  have  for  the  great  American  Republic,  for  its  universities  and  educa- 
tional institutions,  high  regard  and  sincere  friendship.  They  hope  that  the 
great  fight  which  they  are  waging  and  which  the  tv/o  great  republics  will 
wage  to  the  end  for  the  triumph  of  liberty,  of  justice  and  of  humanity,  will 
draw  still  closer  the  bonds  of  friendship  which  have  so  long  united  them. 

F.  Dumas 

From  Toulouse  a  night's  journey  brought  me  again  to  Paris, 
where  I  attended  a  Harvard  dinner.  Addresses  were  made  in 
both  French  and  English,  the  Minister  of  Public  Instruction  and 
our  own  Ambassador  being  the  special  guests. 

I  then  went  to  see  the  western  end  of  the  French  front,  passing 
through  the  region  across  which  the  Germans  had  retreated  leav- 
ing it  in  a  devastated  condition.  The  one  school  picture  of  that 
schoolless  region  which  I  keep  most  vividly  is  of  a  school  building 
enough  of  whose  blackened  walls  stood  to  show  that  it  had  once 
been  an  ecole  munic'ipale ;  but  I  shall  not  attempt  to  speak  of 
these  experiences  here. 


83 

St  Cyr  and  Joinville 

I  then  visited  two  notable  schools:  one  at  St  Cyr,  the  West 
Point  of  France,  now  a  center  for  the  intensive  training  of  young 
men  who  are  aspirants  for  commissions.  What  interested  me 
especially  was  that  their  program  included  a  very  thorough  pro- 
vision for  physical  training.  The  other  at  Joinville,  on  the  other 
side  of  Paris,  is  a  school  for  the  special  tuition  of  teachers  who 
are  to  teach  in  the  military  camps  and,  after  the  war,  in  the 
schools,  for  it  is  anticipated  that  after  the  war  there  will  be  uni- 
versal and  compulsory  physical  training  of  the  children  and  youth 
of  France.  The  thoroughness  with  which  they  are  now  training 
their  teachers  gives  promise  of  an  effective  realization  of  the  hope. 

In  this  connection  mention  should  be  made  of  an  exhibition 
which  I  witnessed  a  few  days  later  in  the  Tuilleries,  where  thou- 
sands were  assembled  to  see  such  physical  exercises  and  athletic 
events,  seemingly  new  in  France,  as  we  have  for  the  most  part 
practised  for  years.  This  exhibition,  called  a  "  Manifestation 
Patriotique,"  v/as  held  under  the  patronage  of  the  Minister  of 
War  but  was  promoted  by  private  societies  which  are  develop- 
ing public  sentiment  in  support  of  such  training. 

Caen 

From  Paris  I  went  next  to  Normandy,  where  I  visited  Caen, 
the  seat  of  the  University  of  Caen.  But  after  the  reception  by 
the  university  authorities,  in  which  the  faculties  and  the  students 
participated,  I  found  that  there  were  lycees  for  boys  and  for  girls 
also  worth  the  journey  to  Caen  to  see.  If  the  schools  of  America 
could  have  heard  the  singing  by  the  girls  assembled  in  the  hall  of 
the  girls'  lycee,  and  could  have  heard  the  address  by  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  teachers  and  of  the  students  in  the  boys'  lycee, 
gathered  in  one  of  the  stateliest  halls  I  have  seen  in  Europe,  they 
would  know  how  cordial  a  feeling  toward  America  has  sprung 
up  in  the  hearts  even  of  the  children  and  youth  of  France.  It  was 
evinced  again  at  the  ecole  normale  when  the  inspector  spoke. 
There  is  space,  however,  for  only  the  address  of  the  rector  of 
the  university.  Monsieur  Moniez,  made  in  the  presence  of  the 


84 

faculties,  who,  standing  in  their  robes  of  learning,  such  as  have 
been  worn  there  for  centuries,  were  surrounded  by  the  students, 
whose  numbers  decimated  by  war  were  filled  by  women  and 
wounded. 

ADDRESS  BY  RECTOR  MONIEZ 

UNIVERSITE    DE  CAEN 

Caen,  June  18,  1917 
Sir: 

I  beg  to  introduce  to  you  the  members  of  the  council  of  the  University 
of  Caen  and  the  professors  and  students  of  its  various  facuUies,  all  of 
them  happy  to  welcome  in  you  one  of  the  most  eminent  representatives  of 
the  thought  of  America. 

The  professors  are  reduced  in  number,  for,  notwithstanding  their  age, 
many  of  them,  as  you  doubtless  know,  are  serving  in  the  field ;  the  students 
are  extremely  few,  for,  except  the  physically  unfit,  all  have  joined  the 
army  where  they  are  doing  their  duty.  Instead  of  the  latter,  you  may  see 
here  some  women  students  who  will  try  to  fill  up  some  of  the  gaps  we  shall 
lament  for  a  long  time  after  the  war ;  but  their  studies  do  not  prevent  them 
from  giving  themselves  up  to  those  various  works  of  assistance,  the  import- 
ance of  which  is  so  well  known  to  you,  and  for  this  reason  part  of  them 
have  found  it  impossible  to  come  here  and  join  their  tribute  to  ours. 

Both  professors  and  students  beg  you.  Sir,  to  forward  to  intellectual 
America  the  expression  of  their  gratitude  and  admiration. 

Gratitude  and  admiration  are  indeed  the  feelings  that  prevail  in  all 
French  souls  after  the  action  of  President  Wilson  and  his  intervention  on 
behalf  of  his  country,  in  a  conflict  where  the  stakes  are  such  that  the  world 
has  never  seen  and  probably  never  will  see  the  like. 

Though  official  Germany  has  unceasingly  quibbled  to  make  the  debate 
an  obscure  one  before  that  tribunal  of  the  civilized  world  where  she  had 
been  summoned  by  America ;  though  atrocious  outrages,  in  the  true  German 
spirit,  have  been  resorted  to  in  order  to  frighten  you.  President  Wilson's 
conscience,  the  reflection  of  your  nation's  collective  conscience,  has  not 
known  for  one  instant  either  hesitation  or  even  uncertainty. 

With  a  clear  insight  into  facts,  first  among  the  neutrals,  President 
Wilson  has  declared  where  justice  was.  He  has  said  it  openly  with  the 
strength,  calmness  and  dignity  which  become  such  great  decisions;  he  has 
said  it  without  any  illusion  as  to  the  possible  consequences  of  the  step  he 
look  or  rather  of  the  verdict  which  he  passed  before  the  attentive  world. 


85 

As  Germany  showed  nothing  but  contempt  for  the  solemn  sentence  by 
which  she  stood  condemned,  America  resolved  to  be  more  than  a  spectator 
in  the  great  drama.  She  deliberately  entered  the  struggle  for  the  defense 
of  liberty  and  justice,  throwing  her  immense  power  into  the  scale,  ready 
for  any  sacrifices,  in  quest  of  nothing  but  honor,  without  any  interest  beside 
the  protection  of  the  high  ideal  which,  in  spite  of  the  barbarians,  remains 
the  guiding  star  of  mankind. 

Admirable  indeed  is  the  virtue  of  that  nation  rising  in  its  thousands  for 
the  preservation  of  civilization  and  the  punishment  of  crime.  For  after  all 
there  was  no  lack  of  pretexts,  and  even  good  reason,  for  standing  aside, 
away  from  the  conflict,  and  the  messengers  of  the  enemy  had  dinned  all 
those  pretexts  and  reasons  into  all  American  ears. 

Allow  me.  Sir,  to  tell  you  now  one  of  the  things  which  moved  our 
hearts  most  deeply  and  which  struck  us  as  singularly  beautiful  and  noble. 
It  is  the  charming  delicacy  of  feeling  which  made  you  ascribe  to  pure 
gratefulness  that  chivalrous  decision  of  yours.  You  often  tell  us  that  you 
are  but  paying  an  old  debt,  the  debt  you  have  owed  us  ever  since  we 
helped  you  in  your  struggle  for  independence.  You  thus  show,  quite 
unwittingly,  that  one  of  the  rarest  of  virtues,  the  virtue  of  gratefulness,  is 
to  be  found  in  America,  and  that  gratefulness  there  is  of  longer  duration 
than  anywhere  else.  We  know  how  faithfully  you  keep  the  memory  of 
our  great  men,  and  you  yourself.  Sir,  who  have  trusted  this  country  with 
the  education  of  your  sons,  wrote  the  following  words  a  long  time  before 
America's  intervention  in  the  war: 

"  La  France  .  .  .  bien  qu'elle  n'ait  plus  aucun  droit  de  propriete  sur 
ces  territoires  (americains)  conserve  du  moins  le  droit  de  toucher  encore 
une  sorte  d'arriere  de  fermage,  de  partager  les  fruits  des  vertus  humaines 
que  elle  y'a  semee  jadis.  De  droit  la,  jamais  le  temps  ne  pourra  ni  le  lui 
enlever  ni  I'obscurcir;  il  ne  saurait  qu'augmenter." 

It  was  indeed  impossible  to  state  in  a  more  ingenious  and  more  charming 
way  your  love  for  our  country,  but  while  we  are  deeply  grateful  to  you 
for  that  love,  we  will  not  allow  ourselves  to  be  deluded  by  your  amiable 
ascription.  The  old  debt  has  long  been  extinct  and  you  well  know  besides 
that  France  has  never  thought  that  she  had  any  claim  upon  you.  You 
have  the  full  honor  of  one  of  the  most  important  acts  in  the  history  of  the 
world,  of  a  decision  that  will  be  attended  with  incalculable  consequences 
far  beyond  the  present  times  and  the  limited  range  of  our  vision. 

A  few  years  ago.  Sir,  you  wrote  a  very  fine  book  with  this  title:  "  The 
French  in  the  Heart  of  America.''  I  will  not  presume  to  praise  the  book 
after  the  French  Academy  has  awarded  it  one  of  its  prizes,  but  I  like  to 


86 

think  that  later  on  some  historian  may  give  a  kind  of  counterpart  to  it  and 
show  that  America  is,  forever  and  ever,  in  the  hearts  of  all  French  people, 

MONIEZ 

Recteur 
Rennes 

From  Normandy  I  went  to  Brittany,  pausing  for  the  night  in 
Laval,  where  I  received  courtesies  from  the  inspecteur  of  that 
district  and  one  of  the  teachers  in  the  boys'  lycee.  Brittany, 
which  is  closest  physically  to  America,  seemed  to  be  most  widely 
and  deeply  cordial  in  its  welcome.  The  girls'  lycee  gave  the 
initial  welcome,  the  girls  being  assembled  in  the  beautiful  garden 
under  characteristic  Frencli  skies  that  wept  one  moment  and 
smiled  the  next.  This  charming  picture  has  beside  it  another  that 
has  no  brightness  in  it,  save  that  which  the  patriotic  spirit  of  the 
workers  may  give  —  the  memory  of  the  interior  of  the  arsenal 
where  nearly  five  thousand  women,  young  and  old,  are  making 
m.unitions.  The  war  seems  more  real  in  this  place,  where  millions 
of  cartridges  are  made  every  week,  than  it  does  even  at  the  front 
except  in  the  active  periods.  And  it  was  a  fit  sequel  that  I  visited 
next  a  boys'  lycee  where  at  a  most  stirring  assembly  of  masters 
and  students  —  very  like  an  assembly  of  American  boys  —  the 
wounded  soldiers  who  were  occupying  a  part  of  the  lycee,  looked 
on  with  their  nurses  from  a  court  at  the  side  of  the  hall.  And 
one  must  mention,  as  of  educational  interest,  the  mayor's  potato 
patch  in  the  midst  of  the  public  park,  supplanting  lawn  and  flower 
beds,  though  only  in  part,  for  the  flowers  can  not  be  wholly  ban- 
ished by  the  French  from  their  gardens,  their  windows,  and  their 
streets.  Out  under  the  trees  of  the  garden  of  the  ecole  normale 
there  was  another  welcome,  with  singing  not  only  of  the  "  Star 
Spangled  Banner  "  but  of  "America,"  and  with  addresses  which 
should  be  heard  by  teachers  in  America,  and  which  I  hope  may 
yet  be  reproduced.  There  was  awaiting,  however,  a  further  wel- 
come. The  university  hall,  in  which  I  had  spoken  several  years 
before,  being  in  war  use,  I  was  received  in  the  City  Hall,  the  able 
and  popular  mayor,  M.  Janvier,  appearing  at  the  stately  entrance 
with  resolutions  of  the  town  council  (in  response  to  President 
Wilson's  message)  in  his  hand  for  presentation  in  the  presence  of 
the  people  gathered  in  the  square.     Escorted  to  the  hall  of  state. 


87 

which  for  the  few  minutes  of  the  seance  was  briUiantly  lighted,  I 
was  welcomed  by  an  audience  in  which  the  national  and  munic- 
ipal governments,  the  civil  and  the  military  authorities,  the  uni- 
versity, and  the  schools  were  represented.  The  eloquent  recteur, 
M.  Gerard  Varet,  made  a  moving  address  and  was  followed  by 
the  president  of  the  student  council,  a  young  man  who  had  lost 
one  of  his  eyes  in  battle  and  who  wore  upon  his  breast  the  croix 
de  guerre. 

The  address  of  the  Recteur  is  presented  in  translation,  but  one 
who  did  not  hear  it  in  the  French  as  pronounced  by  him  can  not 
know  its  real  eloquence. 

ADDRESS  BY  RECTOR  GERARD  VARET 

UNIVERSITE    DE  RENNES 

For  the  second  time  the  University  of  Rennes  has  the  pleasure  of  your 
visit. 

The  first  was  in  March  1911.  We  then  received  you  and  heard  you 
in  the  lecture  room  of  the  Faculty  of  Letters.  Then  we  had  peace.  Our 
students  cheered  you  in  their  youthful  enthusiasm,  flushed  with  fresh  visions 
and  joyful  hopes.  Six  years  have  passed;  those  are  today  absent;  war, 
terrible  war,  worse  than  the  wildest  dreams,  has  seized  them  and  taken 
them  away.  How  many  among  them,  with  their  young  teachers,  with 
many  others  of  all  ranks  and  all  ages  sleep  there  the  heroic  sleep  to  which 
human  civilization  owes  the  fact  that  it  is  still  standing.  On  this  solemn 
occasion,  our  first  thought  belongs  to  them. 

This  thought  does  not  remove  us  from  you,  but  brings  us  nearer  to  you. 
It  is  to  them  that  we  owe  your  presence  here  among  us  today,  to  greet  in  you 
a  great  friend  who  comes  in  the  name  of  a  great  people. 

First  of  all,  you  are  bringing  your  work;  at  your  first  visit  we  had  the 
"  primeur  ";  since  then  you  have  put  it  in  writing;  it  has  become  a  book, 
a  fine  book,  "  The  French  in  the  Heart  of  America." 

The  United  States  have  the  rare  "  coquetterie "  of  gratitude;  for 
nearly  one  hundred  fifty  years  they  have  been  cultivating  with  love  their 
gratitude  to  France,  the  friend  of  their  first  hours,  the  companion  who 
helped  them  in  the  painful  travail  of  their  young  independence.  Such  a 
band  of  our  common  affection  seems  to  you  too  narrow;  you  wanted  for 
it  a  wider  horizon.  You  went  further  back,  through  the  eighteenth,  through 
the  seventeenth,  back  to  the  sixteenth  century,  to  seek  the  magnificent 
explorers  for  France:    Cartier  de  Saint-Malo,  Champlain,  Nicolet,  Lale- 


88 

mant,  Marquette,  La  Salle,  and  many  others.  You  returned  with  them 
up  the  St  Lawrence,  up  the  Great  Lakes.  You  descended  with  them  the 
great  rivers,  Ohio,  Missouri,  Mississippi;  you  have  watched  them  pitch 
their  tents ;  erect  their  forts  in  solitudes  which  later  were  to  become  immense 
cities,  Pittsburgh,  Chicago,  New  Orleans;  you  have  related  their  epic, 
their  immovable  loyal  valor,  without  perfidy,  without  baseness,  without  cor- 
ruption, without  a  blot.  You  did  better  still ;  within  the  limits  of  modern 
America  in  those  vast  regions  where  their  traces  seemed  effaced,  you  have 
rediscovered  their  soul  which  is  still  present  and  active.  You  have  shown 
in  those  regions  of  vast  industry  their  generous  idealism,  their  heroic  cheer- 
fulness, which  today  still  shines  like  a  light  from  above.  This  book  is  a 
hymn  to  France;  France  has  heard  it  with  proud  and  solemn  joy;  it  has 
given  it  the  welcome  it  deserved;  it  has  given  it  in  its  libraries  a  place  of 
honor  beside  such  others  as  Michelet,  who  loved  it  so. 

Besides  your  work,  you  bring  something  else,  the  wishes  of  your  univer- 
sities and  schools,  teachers,  students  and  children.  In  the  autumn  of  1914, 
in  the  dark  winter  which  followed,  before  the  Marne,  after  the  Yser, 
later  still,  for  months,  France,  as  if  bending  over  the  ocean,  strained  her 
ear  toward  distant  voices,  expecting  to  hear  words  of  comfort.  The  first 
came  from  the  universities  of  America.  Two  years  ago,  one  of  your  own 
men,  one  of  your  most  prominent  young  teachers,  spoke  in  this  very  place, 
in  words  of  intimacy  which  touched  us  all,  of  the  concern  which  at  that 
time  of  neutrality  filled  the  disturbed  hearts  in  your  highest  educational 
institutions,  the  attachment  to  the  Alhes,  the  admiration  for  France,  the 
sturdy  faith  in  an  approaching  entente  with  France.  And  then  we  never 
forgot  the  first  and  the  most  severe  condemnation  hurled  at  the  German 
crimes  in  the  midst  of  the  silence  of  the  States,  the  avenging  word  of  the 
illustrious  Eliot,  president  of  Harvard  University. 

Your  students  —  their  families  were  worthy  of  their  teachers.  From  the 
first  year  m.any  among  them  joined  our  troops,  many  have  paid  with  their 
lives  their  worship  of  right.  One  of  them,  an  aviator,  fell  gloriously ;  when 
the  sad  news  was  conveyed  to  the  father,  his  only  reply  was:  "  It  is  well, 
he  died  for  a  great  cause." 

And  finally,  you  bring  the  voice  of  the  whole  of  America:  school  chil- 
dren who  first  had  the  delicate  thought  of  helping  our  little  war  orphans; 
the  boys  and  men,  who  by  hundreds  of  thousands,  by  millions,  are  pre- 
paring for  the  battle  and  sacrifices  of  tomorrow.  The  whole  nation  at  last 
standing  behind  the  President,  who  after  a  long  self-imposed  silence,  has 
in  imperishable  words  declared  war  on  the  empire  of  rapine,  decided  the 
reparations  and  guarantees,  and  outlined  in  a  general  way,  the  Society  of 
Nations, 


89 

By  these  resounding  manifestations  all  France  has  been  thrilled.  She 
has  recognized  in  them  her  most  profound  instincts.  She  has  found  in  her 
new  ally  her  dearest  sentiments  which  combine  to  make  a  perfect  antithesis 
to  Prussia,  such  as  a  Victor  Hugo  would  have  never  dared  to  conceive:  the 
democracy  of  peace  against  the  monarchy  of  war ;  the  state  without  military 
service  against  the  state  which  invented  universal  conscription;  a  people 
whose  life  is  in  broad  daylight  against  a  government  of  mysteries,  lies  and 
espionage;  the  ambition  of  idealism  against  the  covetousness  of  a  ferocious 
egotism;  in  the  past  as  in  the  present,  the  holy  wars  of  liberty  against  the 
savage  wars  of  extermination. 

Mr  Director,  those  who  welcome  you  today  are  friends  moved  by  the 
ardent  conviction  of  the  victory  of  right:  the  teaching  force  of  Rennes  who 
miss  several  of  their  teachers  who  fell  on  the  field  of  honor,  whose  other 
friends  also  have  joined,  especially  the  principal  administrators  and  military 
officials  of  the  city,  more  particularly  the  mayor,  to  whom,  being  deprived 
of  our  buildings  turned  over  to  the  wounded,  we  are  obliged  for  your 
reception  in  this  beautiful  hall  of  the  Hotel  de  Ville,  which  was  restored 
under  his  care ;  facing  the  elders,  the  students,  the  youth  —  or  rather  those 
who  are  left  of  the  young  men  —  those  who  are  beginning  and  those  who 
are  av/aiting  their  turn  to  depart;  others  who  have  returned,  as,  for  example, 
their  president,  he  and  those  no  longer  in  active  service  because  of  wounds, 
decorated  with  the  croix  de  guerre;  and  then  our  young  pupils  who  cast 
upon  our  sadness  the  smile  of  their  charm,  and  finally,  our  great,  doubly 
dear  —  a  new  colleague,  with  us  since  yesterday,  M.  Celestin  Demblon, 
professor  of  the  University  of  Brussels,  deputy  of  Liege,  one  of  the  most 
authoritative  teachers  and  one  of  the  most  eloquent  orators  of  his  country; 
among  the  first  a  solid  group  of  young  Serbians  who  asked  to  add  their 
cheers  to  ours ;  so  that  you  have  gathered  before  your  eyes  in  this  corner  of 
Brittany  the  appealing  representatives  of  the  two  noblest  victims  of  this 
atrocious  war  —  Belgium  and  Serbia,  whom  France,  herself  murdered, 
presses  to  her  bleeding  bosom. 

In  the  name  of  all  present  and  absent,  I  greet  you,  Mr  Director,  and  in 
you  all  the  schools  of  America,  v^ith  a  fraternal  salute  of  welcome. 

Gerard  -Varet 

Recteur 

Another  night  journey  to  Paris  gave  me  an  early  morning 
picture  of  the  city  whose  charm  has  been  but  heightened  by  the 
more  serious  expression  which  she  wears.  The  stream  of  gray- 
blue  is  always  moving  by  night  and  by  day,  yet  as  quietly  as 
France's  placid  rivers. 


90 

Early  in  the  morning  I  went  to  visit  the  place  in  Paris  where 
those  who  can  no  longer  see  the  physical  charm  of  Paris  or  the 
faces  of  their  friends  —  the  soldiers  blinded  in  battle  —  are 
reeducated  that  they  may  begin  life  again.  Visits  to  other  institu- 
tions for  relief  or  reeducation  and  receptions  by  the  American 
Club,  a  body  of  American  business  and  professional  men  in  Paris, 
by  the  professors  of  the  Sorbonne,  and  by  the  Comite  France- 
Amerique,  filled  most  of  the  two  closing  days  in  Paris. 

This  last  night  will  be  for  me  forever  memorable  because  of 
the  presence  of  so  many  friends  of  America  in  the  heart  of  France. 
But  also  because  of  the  utterance  of  those  notable  friends,  M. 
Hanotaux,  M.  Boutroux  and  M.  Bergson  who  presided.  I 
am  able  to  reproduce  here  but  a  portion  of  the  notable  address 
by  Professor  Bergson  which  I  am  proud  to  have  had  a  part  in 
evoking.  It  was  worth  a  journey  through  peril  to  bring  back  to 
America : 

"  Everywhere  in  the  universities,  in  the  colleges,  in  the  schools,  he 
[Mr  Finley]  has  gathered  tokens  of  sympathy  and  of  admiration  for  us. 
.  .  .  We  have  them  before  our  eyes.  There  are,  from  the  President  of 
the  RepubHc  of  the  United  States,  the  great  and  noble  Wilson,  to  the 
humblest  scholar,  the  most  touching  of  messages.  President  Finley,  you 
are  going  in  a  few  hours.  .  .  .  Tell  everyone  over  there  of  our  deep 
emotions  and  allow  us  to  express  to  you  in  person  all  our  gratitude  and  to 
tell  j'^ou  (recalling  a  figure  which  will  truly  serve,  of  one  of  those  whose 
messages  you  brought.  President  Butler)  that  you  have  just  joined  several 
links  —  I  will  call  them  links  of  gold  —  in  the  chain  which  binds  France 
to  America.  We  will  express,  too,  our  gratitude  toward  other  American 
delegates  here  present.  Major  Murphy,  Chief  of  the  Red  Cross  Mission. 
M.  Murphy  organized  here  help  not  only  for  wounded  Americans  but  also 
for  wounded  French,  and  at  the  same  time  help  for  the  inhabitants  of  our 
invaded  and  devastated  regions.  To  Professor  Woods  who  has  spent 
several  months  among  us  and  who  fortunately  is  going  to  remain  next 
year.  He  represents  among  us  in  an  eminent  way  American  science,  learn- 
ing and  philosophy.     .     .     . 

For  my  part,  I  have  never  doubted  that  America  would  intervene 
sooner  or  later  in  this  war,  and  I  was  sure,  as  I  kept  saying,  that  it  would 
not  be  through  selfish  interests,  through  material  purposes  or  gain  that  she 
would  intervene;  it  would  be  by  reason  of  some  great  principle. 

I  said  here  to  the  Franco-American   Committee  on   returning   from  a 


91 

voyage  some  years  ago,  "America  is  a  country  of  idealism,  it  is  the  land 
of  the  ideal."  Because  Americans  have  had  to  clear  a  new  continent,  to 
struggle  for  their  existence,  we  have  come  to  believe  that  they  were  men 
with  selfish  interests,  occupied  before  all  with  material  interests.  What  a 
mistake!  He  who  has  lived  in  America  realizes  that  there  is  no  country 
in  the  world  where  money  means  less.  It  is  only  necessary  to  see  how  they 
spend  it,  how  they  give  it,  and  for  what  they  earn  it.  They  earn  it  and 
they  seek  for  it  only  that  they  may  give  proof  that  they  have  made  every 
effort  possible.     Money  over  there,  I  said,  was  a  certificate  of  efficiency. 

Whoever  has  lived  in  America  knows  that  high  ideals,  moral  and 
religious,  have  the  first  place  over  there.  Whoever  has  studied  American 
literature  and  philosophy  knows  that  the  American  soul  is  impregnated  with 
idealism  and  even  with  mysticism.  Whoever  has  studied  American  his- 
tory knows  that  abstract  and  general  thoughts  of  morality  and  justice 
have  always  held  first  place.  It  is  upon  pure  ideals  and  pure  thoughts  that 
the  American  nation  was  built,  and  it  is,  perhaps,  the  only  nationality  in 
the  world,  which  was  thus  built  consciously  and  freely.  For  elsewhere,  it 
was  by  force  of  circumstances,  by  tradition  and  by  a  series  of  events  that 
the  constitution  of  this  and  that  nation  was  determined.  Once  only  in  the 
history  of  the  world  was  a  nation  built  upon  considerations  purely  ideal  — 
that  was  the  day  when  the  nation  was  founded  which  was  to  become  the 
American  nation  and  the  American  nationality.  Those  who  left  England 
to  come  to  colonize  America  were  not  drawn  over  there  as  colonists  gen- 
erally are  by  the  ultimate  thought  of  material  interests;  it  was  not  to  enrich 
themselves;  it  was  not  in  order  to  find  ease;  it  was  only  to  find  liberty  of 
thought  and  conscience.  So  then,  it  was  upon  an  ideal  of  liberty  and 
justice  that  the  states  which  were  to  become  the  United  States  were 
founded.  This  ideal  of  justice  and  of  liberty  they  sum  up  over  there  in 
the  words,  "  democratic  ideal." 

What  is  the  meaning  of  the  word  democracy  as  used  in  the  United 
States?  I  believe  that  it  is  necessary,  to  give  a  true  definition  of  it,  that 
one  comprehend  the  esteem  for  democracy  and  democracy's  future  that 
we  have  received  for  some  time  from  over  there. 

The  word  democracy  in  America  is  very  profound  in  its  meaning. 
Democratic  rule  is  reason,  pure  reason  substituted  for  force,  for  instinct 
and  even  for  tradition.  It  concerns  the  relations  between  citizens  within 
the  state.  The  relations  between  citizens  as  they  have  been  ordered  little 
by  little  by  historical  incident  and  tradition  are  not  the  relations  governed 
by  justice  and  equality  before  the  law.  But  what  reason  reclaims  is 
equality  before  the  law.  Democratic  rule  is  that  which  considers,  force 
and  tradition  and  all  historical  contingencies  eliminated,  man  the  equal  of 


92 

man  because  all  men  have  a  share  in  a  certain  superior  infinite  nature,  and 
thus  the  dignity  of  each  man  is  preeminent  and  the  value  of  each  man  is 
absolute.     These  are  the  relations  betv^een  citizens  of  the  same  state. 

This  conception  of  democracy  is  further  the  conception  of  the  relations 
between  states.  In  regard  to  these,  what  is  it  that  tradition  and  force  and 
instinct  have  done?  They  have  brought  about  the  oppression  of  the  feeble 
by  the  strong.  If  we  start  with  a  clean  slate  and  get  the  point  of  view 
from  pure  reason,  whether  the  states  are  little  or  great,  it  matters  nothing; 
they  are  no  more  than  moral  persons  equal  one  to  the  other,  equal  before 
the  law. 

If  we  accept  this  conception  of  the  state  and  of  the  relation  of  states 
one  to  the  other,  without  violence,  the  reign  of  force  is  done  away  with. 
To  the  reign  of  force  succeeds  among  nations  the  rule  of  right.  That  is 
why  Americans  believe  and  say  that  democracy  is  the  essence  of  peace. 
Thus  all  durable  and  definitive  peace  is  the  essence  of  democracy;  it  is 
this  very  profound  idea  which  dominates,  it  seems  to  me,  the  history  of 
the  United  States.  It  is  because  the  present  war  presents  with  an  acuteness 
that  has  never  before  been,  the  question  of  knowing  whether  the  rule  of 
right  or  the  rule  of  force  is  to  be  established  so  in  the  world.  It  is  for  that 
reason  that  it  was  absoluLely  sure  that  if  the  war  was  prolonged,  prolonged 
fully  enough,  America  would  enter  this  war. 

That  is  the  decisive  reason,  but  there  is  yet  another.  This  last  one  I 
saw  and  I  comprehended  better  and  better  the  longer  I  remained  in 
America. 

I  arrived  in  America  at  a  most  critical  time  and  I  followed  from  day  to 
day,  I  might  say  from  hour  to  hour,  American  thought.  Diplomatic  rela- 
tions had  been  broken  —  broken  under  such  conditions,  after  what  Presi- 
dent Wilson  said,  it  was  in  fact  a  declaration  of  war,  if  American  shipping 
was  torpedoed.  Therefore  war  appeared  inevitable.  But  what  sort  of  a 
war?  Was  it  to  be  a  war  concerning  torpedoing  only,  a  defensive  war 
and  consequently  one  that  would  end  upon  the  day  when  the  Germans  gave 
sufficient  assurances  relative  to  the  torpedoing  of  American  shipping? 
Would  this  be  a  partial  and  defensive  war,  or  was  it  to  be  a  "  whole  " 
war,  a  war  into  which  America  would  throw  herself  with  all  her  forces  and 
resources,  with  the  resolution  taken  to  put  an  end  to  German  militarism? 

In  other  words  the  question  presented  was  this:  was  it  proposed  to 
repress  the  aggression  of  the  submarine  as  such,  or  would  they  see  in  that 
aggression  a  sign,  an  index  of  a  certain  state  of  soul  of  a  certain  nation, 
and  the  proof  that  there  existed  in  the  world  a  nation  with  which  it  was 
impossible  henceforth  to  live?     That  was  the  question  presented. 

I  said  that  I  could  follow  the  gradual  evolution  of  American  sentiment 


^3 

that  was  drawing,  little  by  little,  America  to  the  question  that  whatever 
befell,  it  was  to  be  a  "  whole  "  war  in  which  America  would  throw  her- 
self with  the  purpose  of  stamping  out  or  stifling  German  militarism.  For 
two  months,  February  and  March,  there  was  amongst  my  friends  over  there 
the  greatest  anxiety.  It  was  by  his  address  of  the  second  of  April,  his 
admirable,  immortal  address  of  the  second  of  April,  that  President  Wilson 
put  an  end  to  this  anxiety.  The  war  which  he  decided  to  wage,  conform- 
ing to  the  thought  and  sentiment  of  the  Americans  was  to  be  a  "  whole  " 
war  which  they  would  conduct  to  the  finish  —  he  said :  to  the  end  of 
Prussian  militarism. 

I  myself  never  doubted  that  that  would  be  the  answer,  because  I  knew 
that  was  the  ideal  of  America.  Since  I  have  been  in  America  I  have  been 
in  the  closest  contact  with  the  American  soul,  and  what  impressed  me 
deeply  was  the  regard  and  admiration  which  they  have  for  France. 

This  sentiment  does  not  date  from  yesterday.  From  the  earliest  times 
in  America  they  have  felt  for  France  a  certain  great  gratitude  for  that  which 
she  did  in  the  time  of  the  War  of  Independence.  But  since  the  beginning 
of  the  present  war,  since  the  Marne  especially,  the  Americans  have 
followed  the  events  of  the  war  with  profound  admiration  —  an  admiration 
which  has  gone  on  increasing  from  the  Marne  to  Verdun  —  and  admira- 
tion for  our  army,  for  our  civil  population  in  furnishing  this  army  and  in 
maintaining  it.  It  would  be  very  difficult  for  those  who  have  not  lived  in 
America  during  these  last  months  to  form  an  idea  of  this  regard.  It  is 
admiration,  it  is  respect,  it  is  reverence,  it  is  regard  which  one  has  for  a 
moral  person  who  has  made  a  great,  immense  effect  in  the  interest  of 
humanity  and  above  all  one  who  has  performed  it  in  silence,  without  com- 
plaint and  without  boasting.  It  is  admiration  for  that  which  one  might 
call  simplicity  in  sacrifice,  admiration  for  a  nation  which  has  been  given 
or  which  has  received  a  mission,  and  which  is  accomplishing  it  with 
childlike  candor  and  simplicity. 

The  other  day  at  the  Academy  of  Moral  Sciences  while  in  search  of  a 
means  of  making  this  settlement  understood,  I  spoke  of  Joan  of  Arc  and  I 
said  that  the  Americans  feel  toward  France  what  France  feels  toward 
Joan  of  Arc.  The  mission  which  Joan  of  Arc  accomplished  for  us,  it 
seems  to  Americans  —  it  is  thus  that  I  interpret  their  feelings  —  is  what 
France  has  accomplished  for  the  nations,  I  do  not  think  that  I  am  mis- 
taken, but  I  constandy  had  this  feeling  when  I  was  in  America  that  they 
had  this  sentiment  —  I  might  almost  say  this  sensation.  This  great  love, 
this  great  admiration  for  France  remained  for  a  long  time  peaceful  and 
silent  in  America;  then  one  fine  day  there  was  a  revelation.  It  was  when 
our  French  Viviani-Joffre  Mission  arrived  in  America.     I  was  in  Wash- 


94 

ington  at  first  when  they  were  there ;  I  was  in  New  York  when  they  went 
to  New  York.  The  enthusiasm  beggars  description;  thousands  upon 
thousands  of  men  quivered,  doubtless  without  knowing  why,  at  the  burning 
eloquence  of  our  minister,  Viviani.  They  were  shown  from  afar  off  Mar- 
shal Joffre,  and  I  have  seen  mothers  raise  their  little  children  in  their  arms 
afar  off  above  an  ocean  of  heads  —  there  were  fifty  thousand  people 
perhaps  —  to  show  them  Joffre,  in  order  that  his  features  might  be 
engraved  upon  their  minds,  Joffre,  the  hero  of  the  Marne,  the  impassible 
Joffre,  who,  in  spite  of  his  impassibility  at  that  moment,  despite  his  efforts, 
was  unable  to  restrain  his  emotions.  That  is  what  I  saw.  That  day 
America  gave  to  the  light,  and  clamorously,  a  sentiment  which  had  for  a 
long  time  been  left  hidden  deep  in  its  heart,  and  it  is  that  feeling  and  that 
ideal  of  which  I  spoke  just  now,  which  made  America  enter  into  this  war. 

These  are  the  two  reasons  for  her  entering  the  war,  and  perhaps  they 
are  one  in  effect  after  all  and  this  love  of  France  and  this  worship  of  an 
ideal  of  justice  and  liberty  is  perhaps  the  same  thing.  America  has  always 
had  this  worship  of  liberty  which  she  calls  the  idea  of  democracy,  the  idea 
of  liberty  and  the  idea  of  justice.  But  all  the  history  of  France  is  the 
constant  development  of  this  same  idea  and  this  same  worship,  with  the 
difference  that  we  had  slowly  to  bring  tradition  to  the  understanding  of 
pure  reason,  in  place  of  which  the  Americans  were  able,  and  of  necessity 
had  to  come  to  the  ideal  of  reason  at  one  stroke.  We  have  had  to  slowly 
and  painfully,  too,  reform  the  ancient;  but  they  at  one  stroke  set  up  the 
modern.  Which  has  the  greater  merit?  Which  was  the  more  difficult? 
I  do  not  know,  and  it  matters  little.  This  is  certain  that  in  this  common 
ideal  for  which  some  have  set  out  and  where  others  have  arrived  you  must 
look  to  find  the  secret  of  the  underlying  sentiments  which  unites  America 
to  France. 

And  now  America  has  come  into  the  war  and  she  has  come  into  it 
"  wholly,"  with  all  her  resources  and  with  an  immovable  will  to  push  it 
to  the  finish.  It  is  a  resolution  taken  once  for  all,  a  decision  implacable. 
President  Wilson  expressed  it  back  in  those  days  in  these  words:  "  We 
have  made  our  choice,  v/e  have  taken  our  decision,  and  woe  to  those  who 
stand  in  our  way." 

America  is  throwing  herself  into  the  war  with  all  of  her  soul  and  with 
all  of  her  resources  —  and  these  are  inexhaustible.  They  are  the  resources 
of  a  country  of  more  than  a  million  inhabitants,  resources  in  men,  resources 
industrial,  resources  of  every  description.  Never  since  the  beginning  of 
the  war  have  we  been  more  sure  of  victory  than  we  are  today.  America 
brings  not  only  considerable  material  resources,  unchangeable  resolve  to 
conquer,  but  she  is  bringing  methods  of  work.  For  the  American  has  his 
own  method  of  working,  and  that  is  a  very  rapid  method.     You  must  not 


95 

think  that  because  she  has  much  to  do  to  prepare  an  army  and  to  train  it, 
that  it  is  going  to  take  a  long  time.  Rapidity  in  working  is  a  characteristic 
of  the  American,  once  he  has  decided  to  do  something.  And  he  throws 
himself  into  it  with  all  his  soul,  according  to  the  need,  without  regrets  for 
the  past  —  if  there  are  any  —  and  also  without  illusions  for  the  future. 

It  is  Longfellow  who  put  into  this  stanza  the  motto  of  America  in  which 
he  says  that  America  does  not  run  after  hope  for  the  future  nor  concern 
itself  with  the  past,  but  throws  its  entire  soul  into  the  present: 

Trust  no  future,  howe'er  pleasant! 

Let  the  dead  Past  bury  its  dead! 
Act,  act  in  the  living  present! 

Heart  within,  and  God  o'erhead! 

We  can  be  sure  that  America  will  remain  faithful  to  this  motto.  Let 
us  work  together,  let  us  have  patience  to  wait  a  few  months,  perhaps  only 
a  few  weeks,  and  let  us  hold  on  even  to  the  end  and  something  wonderful 
is  going  to  be  brought  forth  in  the  world.  For  all  that  there  has  been  until 
now  in  the  world  of  barbarism,  whether  real  or  seeming,  all  that  has  flowed 
toward  and  into  the  center  of  Europe  and  has  established  a  monstrous 
thing.  The  monster  is  giving  forth  a  vile  miasma  with  which  our  entire 
civilization  is  half  poisoned.  Let  us  hold  out  until  this  monster  is 
smothered  —  that  \vi\\  be  the  end  of  the  miasmas  which  have  poisoned  us 
and  will  be  the  restoration  of  breath  to  all  humanity.  That  will  be  a 
true  liberation. 

We  owe  that  to  our  allies,  and  we  owe  that  particularly  to  America 
who  is  going  to  join  us.     Let  us  give  our  thanks. 

Poitiers 

Another  journey  was  then  made  out  through  the  fertile  valley 
of  the  Loire  —  in  whose  fields,  as  throughout  France,  the  women 
are  carrying  on  their  patient  and  heroic  labors  for  the  support  of 
her  armies  —  to  Poitiers,  where,  in  addition  to  the  schools  of  the 
usual  types,  I  visited  a  place  where  the  prominent  women  of  the 
city  furnish  certain  articles  of  food  and  drink  at  a  nominal  price 
to  the  soldiers,  en  repos,  or  in  training,  and  also  a  hospital  in 
what  were,  before  the  war,  the  dormitories  of  the  ecole  normale. 
The  girls  go  forward  v/ith  their  training,  but  they  have  given  their 
rooms  high  on  the  cliff  looking  across  the  narrow  valley,  to  their 
wounded  fathers  and  brothers,  and  their  capable  directrice  gives 
attention  to  both  school  and  hospital.  The  faculties  of  the  uni- 
versity were  called  in  special  council,  and  after  an  address  by  the 


96 

Recteur,  approved  by  their  signatures  the  following  message 
which  was  supplemented  by  other  and  most  cordial  addresses 
made  by  the  rector  and  mayor  and  others  at  a  banquet  given 
before  my  departure  upon  a  night  journey  to  Bordeaux.  The 
formal  message,  signed  by  all  the  professors,  including  a  profes- 
sor in  exile  from  Lille,  was  as  follows: 

UNIVERSITE  DE  POITIERS 

Poitiers,  June  22,  1917 

The  council  of  the  University  of  Poitiers,  in  its  special  meeting  of  June 
22,  1917,  to  which  had  been  exceptionally  invited  the  professors  of  the 
faculties  at  present  in  Poitiers,  thank  Mr  John  H.  Finley,  present  at  the 
meeting,  for  the  honor  he  has  done  to  the  university  in  visiting  it. 

It  requests  him  to  be  its  spokesman  to  the  American  universites  and  to 
transmit  to  them  w^ith  its  sentiments  of  brotherliness  the  wish 

That  after  the  common  victory,  complete  victory,  which  has  become 
more  certain  than  ever  by  the  noble  adhesion  of  the  United  States  to  the 
cause  of  the  Allies,  the  cause  of  right  and  of  liberty,  the  students  of  the 
two  nations  having  learned  to  know  each  other  on  the  field  of  battle,  to 
appreciate  and  to  love  each  other,  may  remain  united  In  peace  as  they 
are  In  war,  and  that  to  this  end  there  be  established  between  the  universities 
of  the  two  sides  of  the  Atlantic  more  and  more  close  relations;  and 
especially  that  there  be  established  a  regular  exchange  of  teachers  and 
students. 

The  University  of  Poitiers  already  now  assures  those  who  wiW  come  to 
it,  its  most  cordial  hospitality. 

PiNEAU 
President  du  Conseil  de  VUniversite 

Bordeaux 

At  Bordeaux,  the  day  being  Saturday,  there  was  no  oppor- 
tunity to  see  the  schools  in  session,  but  an  assembly  was  held  in 
the  hall  of  the  university,  attended  in  such  numbers  by  officials, 
professors,  teachers  and  students  that  many  were  unable  to  find 
seats  or  even  standing  room  in  the  hall.  The  meeting  was  pre- 
sided over  by  the  recteur,  M.  Thamin,  author  of  the  notable  book 
on  *'  The  University  and  the  War  "  dedicated  to  the  memory  of 
his  own  son  who  had  died  in  the  war  (as  had  the  son  of  many 
another   recteur   and   university   professor).      After   his   stirring 


97 

address,  which  was  enthusiastically  received  by  the  large  audi- 
ence, he  presented  the  message  that  had  been  accepted  by 
the  faculties  of  the  university  for  transmission  to  America.  This 
was  supplemented  by  Professor  Cestre,  the  beloved  professor 
of  English  in  the  university,  who  not  only  interpreted  the  mes- 
sages sent  from  America  but  added  something  out  of  the  records 
of  Bordeaux,  a  transcript  of  Lafayette's  sailing  orders  from  that 
port.  There  was  cheering  by  the  students  who  put  "Amerique  " 
by  the  side  of  "  France,"  and  I  found  subsequently  that  hundreds 
of  them  had  attached  their  signatures,  with  those  of  their  teachers, 
to  the  greetings  of  the  university  faculties. 

ADDRESS  BY  RECTOR  THAMIN 

UNIVERSITE  DE  BORDEAUX 

To  the  Professors  and  Teachers  of  the  Universities  and  Schools  of  the 
United  States,  our  Felioiv-workers  in  the  Furtherance  of  Truth  and 
of  the  Ideal: 

France  has  never  doubted  America.  She  was  deeply  sensitive  to  the 
numerous  proofs  of  friendship  and  the  moving  tokens  of  esteem —  indeed 
beyond  her  deserts  —  which  came  to  her  from  so  many  men  of  note,  and 
prominent  seats  of  learning,  and  earnest  groups  of  citizens,  even  before  the 
dire  enmity  of  the  Central  Empires  had  been  directed  at  the  peaceful 
republic  beyond  the  ocean. 

When  America's  hour  had  struck,  and  she  so  nobly  responded  to  the 
call  of  her  conscience,  we  felt  suddenly  uplifted  by  buoyant  gladness, 
not  merely  because  of  the  powerful  help  thereby  vouched  for,  but  chiefly 
because  of  the  moral  strength  which  accrued  to  our  cause  and  of  the 
decisive  moral  weight  thrown  in  the  scale  of  right  and  fair-dealing  for 
ages  to  come. 

America  has  set  the  living  example  of  a  peace-loving  democracy  taking 
up  arms  in  indignation  at  the  injustice  of  conquest,  the  vileness  of  guile, 
the  shamefulness  of  perjury  and  the  ruthless  insolence  of  "  might  above 
right." 

France  entered  the  conflict  constrained,  feeling  that  submissive  accept- 
ance of  the  supreme  insult  offered  to  a  small  nation  would  entail  the  final 
dominion  of  the  "  mailed  fist  "  over  the  world.  Ill  prepared,  she  stepped 
forward  to  battle  against  overwhelming  odds,  opposing  the  breasts  of  her 
brave  to  the  onrush  of  lawless  violence  and  murderous  despotism. 
4 


98 

Never  since  the  "  levee  en  masse  "  of  the  volunteers  of  the  Revolution 
had  the  world  seen  such  devotion  of  a  whole  people  for  the  defense  of  right. 
But  it  was  reserved  to  the  world  to  witness  this  glorious  spectacle:  the 
great  republic  of  the  New  World  uprising  in  the  name  of  the  same  eternal 
principles,  and,  without  any  desire  for  conquest,  without  any  idea  of  self- 
profit,  out  of  mere  sacrifice,  marshaling  her  legions  to  light  for  civilization 
and  the  future  of  mankind. 

It  is  through  no  fortuitous  coincidence  that  the  clear-headed  and  noble- 
souled  statesman  who  gave  articulate  utterance  to  the  conscience  of 
America,  was  for  many  years  a  professor,  then  a  president,  of  a  university. 
The  professors  and  teachers  of  American  universities  and  schools,  as  the 
professors  and  teachers  of  the  universities  of  France,  have  taught  the 
generations  to  reverence  right  as  the  firm  foundation  of  all  free  common- 
wealths, and,  in  an  uncertain  future  eagerly  to  be  wished,  as  the  unshak- 
able basis  of  the  league  of  nations  for  durable  peace. 

The  masters  and  scholars  of  the  university  and  schools  of  Bordeaux, 
in  the  names  of  their  dead,  whose  record  already  fills  so  many  pages  of 
the  roll  of  honor,  respectfully  and  cordially  greet  the  masters  and  scholars 
of  the  universities  and  schools  of  the  United  States,  about  to  enter,  in  their 
turn,  the  career  of  danger  and  of  glory. 

It  is  from  Bordeaux  that  Lafayette,  in  1  777,  put  off  westward  on 
board  "  The  Victory,"  with  the  purpose  of  offering  to  the  insurgents  of 
America  the  help  of  his  sword  and  of  his  enthusiasm.  The  University 
of  Bordeaux  is  proud  to  revive  this  memory  and  to  express  to  the  American 
universities  and  schools  her  sincere  and  eager  wishes,  under  the  aegis  of 
Lafayette  sailing  on  "  The  Victory."  Thamin 

Recteur 

I  visited,  before  the  delayed  sailing  of  the  returning  ship,  the 
excellent  school  for  the  training  of  the  mutilated  soldiers  (similar 
to  that  of  Lyons,  but  with  a  special  laboratory  for  studying  and 
testing  various  movements,  under  the  direction  of  Doctor  Gour- 
don)  and  then  the  institution  particularly  for  the  reeducation  of 
those  mutilated  who  have  lost  their  eyes,  a  class  in  whose  train- 
ing I  have  been  for  many  years  especially  interested. 

Then  after  a  journey  on  foot  to  the  lonely  chateau  of  Montes- 
quieu, at  La  Brede  (twelve  miles  distant) ,  for  the  last  sunset, 
and  back  in  the  darkness  to  the  ship,  I  began  the  homeward 
voyage  thinking,  as  those  who  saw  Helen  pass,  that  France 
has  in  the  beauteous  valors  of  her  soul  in  this  great  struggle 
justified  all  our  venturing  with  her  for  human  liberty. 


99 

L'ENVOI 

That  which  rises  most  clearly  and  significantly  in  my  memory 
of  all  that  I  heard  and  saw  in  this  hurried  visit  to  France  is  not 
the  sound  of  the  guns  along  the  trenches  (though  one  can  never 
lose  that  from  one's  ears,  however  loud  the  nearer  voices)  nor 
the  sound  of  the  battles  in  the  skies  by  day  and  night;  not  the 
sight  of  the  ceaseless  stream  of  soldiers  in  blue  or  the  wounded 
in  the  hospitals  or  in  the  schools  for  their  reeducation,  appeal- 
ing as  these  were,  nor  the  sight  of  the  ruins  of  villages  or  of  the 
graves  out  in  the  fields;  it  is  the  memory  of  the  voices  of  school 
children  crying  "  vi've  V Amerique '\-  it  is  the  memory  of  their 
faces  from  Brittany  to  the  Vosges  and  from  Paris  to  the 
Pyrenees.  Sometimes  above  their  myriad  voices  one  voice  is 
heard  carrying  some  clear  motif  of  love  for  France,  of  sorrow  in 
exile  from  devastated  homes,  or  of  hope  for  victory;  sometimes 
it  is  a  group  of  voices,  as  of  that  class  in  the  Lycee  Victor  Duruy, 
singing  the  *'  Star  Spangled  Banner  "  in  French,  or  of  that 
assembly  in  Caen,  in  Normandy,  where  the  children  sang 
"  America  "  with  flowers  in  their  hands  symbolizing  our  colors. 
Again  it  is  the  allocution  of  a  priest  in  the  great  Cathedral  of 
Notre  Dame  speaking  in  tribute  to  his  martyred  brothers,  or  the 
glowing  word  of  Viviani  in  the  Senate,  or  the  roar  of  the  multi- 
tude in  the  Place  de  la  Concorde  welcoming  the  American 
general,  that  overpowers  with  its  volume  even  the  treble  of  the 
children's  voices.  And,  again,  it  is  the  appeal  of  that  university 
student,  who,  losing  one  eye  in  battle,  had  come  back  to  con- 
tinue his  studies  in  the  university  from  which  so  many  of  his  com- 
rades had  gone  forth  to  die  in  the  "  vales  of  the  blue  shrouds." 

But  all  these  voices  were  as  the  expectant  overture  of  a  new 
symphony,  for  emerging  from  the  black  sorrow  of  the  spring  of 
1917  when  a  hundred  thousand  men  had  perished  in  a  few  days, 
France,  repeating  in  her  every  school  the  message  of  President 
Wilson,  found  her  hope  still  springing  in  the  hearts  of  her 
children.  And  their  songs  were  heard  even  in  the  trenches.  It 
was  an  overture  of  expectancy,  for  the  first  American  troops 
were  approaching.      They  were  nearing  the  coast  of  France  on 


100 

the  very  day  that  its  last  headland  disappeared  from  my  view. 
And  others  were  following  far  out  on  the  sea.  I  saw  one  evening 
in  the  dusk  still  other  ships  with  their  cargoes  of  Americans  who 
were  to  carry  on  the  symphony  with  harsh  and  thunderous  voices 
but  with  the  same  theme  as  that  which  found  expression  in  the 
messages  of  the  American  universities,  colleges  and  schools  and  in 
the  responses  which  are  here  echoed. 

To  these  responding  messages  one  more  must  be  added,  one 
that  was  running  beneath  the  waters,  far  below  our  keel,  when 
I  was  on  the  ocean  returning  —  far  even  belov/  any  waiting  sub- 
marines —  a  message  of  which  I  was  permitted  to  bear  to  our 
President  an  original  copy  in  the  hand  of  that  great  friend  of 
America,  M.  Emile  Boutroux,  the  President  of  that  renowned 
body  that  sent  it,  the  Institut  de  France. 

INSTITUTE  OF  FRANCE 

The  Institute  of  France  to  President  Wilson  on  the  occasion  of  Inde- 
pendence Day,  July  4,1917: 

On  this  day  when  the  United  States  of  America  celebrates  the  anni- 
versary of  those  high  achievements  of  valor  through  which  they  have  become 
a  free  and  independent  country,  the  Institute  of  France,  meeting  in  full 
assembly,  offers  fitting  homage  to  the  great  President  who  has  unceasingly 
sought  to  receive  from  the  soul  of  the  American  people  his  inspiration,  and 
who  has  realized  in  the  fullest  sense  for  the  welfare  of  the  United  States 
the  sublime  aims  set  forth  in  the  Declaration  of  1  776. 

Against  a  power  as  formidable  as  insolent,  a  power  that,  violating  all 
human  rights  and  principles,  meant  to  organize  for  its  own  profit  the  whole 
moral  and  material  world,  the  United  States  of  America,  considering  the 
principle  in  whose  name  they  had  made  their  revolution,  a  principle 
recognizing  the  sacred  character  of  human  rights,  have  come  to  know  that 
a  policy  of  isolation  is  no  longer  possible,  and  the  organization  of  the 
world  as  Germany  sought  to  bring  about  must  have  its  foundation  in 
liberty  and  not  in  despotism. 

The  time  has  come  for  a  confession  of  its  faith  and  a  fulfillment  of  its 
duty.  A  voice  has  been  heard,  "Thou  must  " ;  and  Young  America  has 
answered,  *'  I  can." 

Already  the  American  soldiers  are  on  French  soil  and  have  joined  the 
Allies.     The  A.tlantic  is  no  more. 


tot 

Honor  to  the  Nation  that  does  not  want  to  enjoy  liberty  any  longer, 
unless  all  nations,  large  and  small,  can  have  it. 

Brothers  of  America,  glory  to  you  who  rejoice  in  mingling  —  as 
formerly  —  your  colors  with  ours  for  the  defense  of  our  common  ideal ! 
If  those  can  be  strong  who  fight  for  the  slavery  of  the  world  and  of  them- 
selves, why  should  not  those  who  are  ready  to  bring  all  sacrifices  for  right 
and  liberty  be  invincible? 

[Signed]     Emile  Boutroux, 
President 

A.  Thomas, 
A.  d'Arsonval, 
Th.  Dubois, 
E.  d'Eichthal, 

Vice    Presidents 

EtiENNE    LaMY, 

Secretary 

These  messages  in  exchange  between  America  and  France, 
written,  spoken,  sung,  are  but  the  intimation  of  the  new  intellec- 
tual alliance  which  is  ordained  out  of  the  mouths  and  hearts  of 
the  children,  as  well  as  prophesied  out  of  the  immortal  valors 
of  the  soldiers  and  the  counsels  of  the  wisest  men  of  France,  it 
is  through  the  children  that  the  prophecy  of  the  world  freedom 
is  to  be  realized.  Into  the  union  sacree  of  the  trenches  our  men 
have  been  admitted,  but  it  is  for  these  children  of  those  who 
fight  side  by  side  to  keep  the  spirit  of  this  union  of  purpose  after 
the  inhuman  warfare  is  over.  And  that  is  to  be  promoted  first  of 
all  by  such  interchange  of  messages  between  the  children  of 
America  and  France  and  Britain  and  Italy  as  has  been  begun 
—  such  messages,  for  example,  as  that  which  has  come  from  the 
fourteen-year-old  girl  in  a  Paris  school  and  has  already  reached 
tens  if  not  hundreds  of  thousands  in  the  country. 

Upon  this  better  acquaintance  of  our  children,  one  with 
another,  and  upon  the  companionship  of  those  in  common  peril, 
the  new  intellectual  alliance  will  fill  the  earth.  It  must  have 
guidance,  however,  of  the  noblest  minds,  and  it  must  have 
visualization  in  something  which  all  can  see.     It  is  under  com- 


102 

pulsion  of  this  thought  that  one  sees  rising  in  that  strip  of  barren 
land,  extending  from  the  North  Sea  to  the  Vosges,  the  land 
which  is  called  by  those  who  fight  on  its  edges  "  No-man's 
Land  "  but  is  to  the  millions  who  look  in  upon  it  daily  "  Every- 
man's Land  " —  that  one  sees  rising  there  not  only  the  memorials 
of  the  struggle  for  world  liberty  in  monuments  and  Pantheons, 
but  also  institutions  in  which  the  full  achievement  of  what  was 
there  defended  and  secured  for  all  mankind  shall  in  fact  be 
realized.  In  this  strip  must  lie  the  campus  of  Democracy's 
World  University  or  Academy.  Here  must  its  walls  rise  in 
soil,  forever  that  of  France,  but  sacred  to  the  nations  that  have 
fought  to  redeem  it  to  the  uses  of  freedom.  Here  where  the 
highest  human  valor  has  had  its  epiphany,  the  wisest  will  come 
into  counsel  to  keep  and  advance  what  that  valor  has  won.  Here 
the  select  youth  of  these  nations  will  come  to  study  m  the  valiant 
air  those  principles  for  which  their  ancestors  died,  in  order  most 
nobly  to  illustrate  them  each  in  his  own  country. 

It  will  be  necessary  that  laboratories  and  libraries  and  clinics 
and  museums  be  located  in  the  populous  centers  in  France,  Eng- 
land, Italy,  Belgium  or  in  other  countries,  but  the  students  who 
enter  this  University  must  matriculate  in  the  halls  that  stand  in 
"  Everyman's  Land,"  must  there  find  the  masters,  intellectual, 
who  are  to  give  them  their  cosmic  conception  of  service  and 
assign  them  to  their  several  places  of  study  in  the  planetary  cur- 
riculum of  Democracy  —  the  University  or  Academy  of  the 
United  World  States. 

But  while  that  university  is  some  day  to  rise  upon  the  horizon 
of  nations,  I  would  have  the  men  and  women  of  America  know 
more  of  what  is  in  France  today.  (I  do  not  speak  of  England 
for  her  advantages  are  better  known.)  I  therefore  append  a 
brief  description,  prepared  by  representatives  of  the  several  insti- 
tutions, of  the  universities  which  I  visited  and  to  which  especially 
I  carried  the  messages  of  the  American  universities  and  colleges. 
(A  fuller  account  is  to  be  found  in  Dean  Wigmore's  "  Science 
and  Learning  in  France,"  with  richer  historical  background.) 


m 

I  have  caused  to  be  put  into  italics  mention  of  the  special 
provisions  in  each  institution  for  the  reception  of  American 
students. 

But  no  dissemination  of  information  here  is  of  value  com- 
parable with  that  which  should  reach  our  men  yonder. 

Today  the  most  effective  measure  of  intellectual  exchange  is 
to  be  found  in  the  persons  of  our  young  men  in  France,  the 
flower  of  America's  young  manhood  which  is  or  will  be  there  in 
a  few  months  —  there  within  physical  reach  of  the  greatest  minds 
of  western  Europe,  and  of  the  mstitutions,  political,  social,  indus- 
trial, intellectual,  through  which  Europe  has  wrought  and  with 
which  America  must  cooperate  in  rebuilding,  strengthening  and 
extending  those  broken  instruments  of  civilization.  Our  educa- 
tional interests  must  follow  these  men  whose  studies  or  profes- 
sions have  been  interrupted,  with  such  provision  as  we  can  make 
to  see  that  they  who  have  ventured  all  for  us,  shall  have,  not 
only  for  their  own  sakes  but  for  the  sake  of  this  rebuilding,  every 
benefit  of  the  best  that  these  countries  have  to  give  out  of  their 
longer  experience.  Some  advantage  of  this  tuition  can  be  had 
in  periods  of  furlough  or  convalescence  during  the  war;  but  the 
greater  opportunity  is  to  come  in  the  weeks  or  months  of  armistice 
or  demobilization.  For  that  our  preparations  must  be  made 
now.  This  is  the  duty  then  of  the  moment:  to  see  that  our  men 
have,  in  France,  and  England,  and  Italy,  and  elsewhere  in 
Europe,  every  educational  advantage  that  our  prevision  and  pro- 
vision can  secure  —  till  they  come  back  to  build  again  in  their 
own  land. 

I  have  a  rare  medal,  designed  by  a  Frenchman,  struck  in 
memory  of  Washington.  It  bears  the  legend  "  Hostibus  primo 
fugatis."  The  enemy  must  indeed  be  put  to  flight.  That  must 
of  course  be  the  first  concern  of  our  alliance,  and  nothing  must 
stand  in  the  way  of  that;  but  with  that  and  after  that  must  come 
this  new  alliance  of  which  glorious  augury  is  given  in  the  messages 
that  flew  between  America  and  France  on  the  eve  of  our  actual 
alliance  in  arms. 


"  Hostibus   pnmo    iugatis 


FRENCH  UNIVERSITIES 


UNIVERSITY  OF  PARIS 

The  University  of  Paris  is  the  oldest  in  the  world,  for  the  schools  of 
Bologna,  organized  a  little  before  its  own,  taught  only  law.  From  the 
middle  of  the  twelfth  century  its  reputation  was  known  throughout  Christen- 
dom and  it  attracted  students  from  all  the  civilized  countries  of  Europe.  It 
embraced  in  its  courses  of  study  all  the  sciences  known  at  that  time.  It 
was  like  a  little  state  in  the  Capetian  capital  —  a  privileged  state,  and 
jealous  of  remaining  so,  under  the  protection  of  the  pope  and  of  the  king; 
a  state  troubled,  at  times  clamorously,  agitated  always,  but  ever  progressive 
and  devoted  to  knowledge.  It  justified  the  favors  that  it  received  by  its 
universal  renown  and  by  the  fame  which  it  spread  outside  upon  the  intellec- 
tual activities  of  France. 

lo  its  misfortune  the  University  of  Paris,  instituted  at  a  time  when  all 
the  studies  were  subordinated  to  theology,  did  not  understand  how  to  keep 
up  an  intimate  contact  with  actual  life  or  how  to  assume  or  to  continue 
the  highest  intellectual  expression. 

The  Sorbonne,  which  was,  in  the  beginning,  only  the  house  where  Robert 
of  Sorbon,  confessor  of  the  King  St  Louis,  lodged  some  students  in  theol- 
ogy, gradually  became  the  Faculty  of  Theology,  and  this  faculty  finished 
by  dominating  all  the  others,  even  though  the  name  was  often  somewhat 
uncertainly  applied.  At  the  time  of  the  great  humanistic  movement  of  the 
Renaissance  in  the  sixteenth  century,  the  university  did  not  seem  to  take 
any  interest  in  it;  life  passed  it  by.  Several  attempts  at  reform  made  in 
the  seventeenth  century  touched  only  the  surface  of  things  and  when  at 
the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century  the  Revolution  made  over  the  titles  in 
existence  for  all  the  institutions  of  the  old  regime,  those  of  the  university 
seemed  to  fall  into  disuse  and  it  was  suppressed. 

Napoleon  did  not  delay  in  reorganizing  public  instruction  in  France. 
He  revived  the  glorious  name  of  the  university,  but  it  was  to  the  entire  body 
of  teaching  in  the  state  that  he  applied  it.  Paris  was  no  more  than  one  of 
the  faculties,  too  closely  regulated  by  the  government,  too  subordinate  to 
its  ends,  to  be  at  first  very  ardent  centers  in  that  productive  scientific  life 
which  asks,  above  all,  independence  and  liberty;  that  is  why  it  was  reserved 
to  a  republican  democracy,  taking  up  again  the  work  scarcely  launched  by 
the  National  Convention  and  completing  it  according  to  the  spirit  of  the  illus- 
trious Assembly,  to  bring  into  existence  a  common  life  for  the  faculties 
which  had  been  separated  one  from  the  other,  and  to  assign  to  them  their 
true  place  in  the  intellectual  life  of  the  nation.     The  foundation  of  the 

[105I 


106 

council  of  faculties  in  1885,  its  elevation  in  1893  to  the  dignity  of  the 
civil  person,  and  at  last  the  restoration  of  the  name  and  the  autonomy  of  the 
university  in  1896-97,  have  reestablished,  adapting  it  to  the  needs  of 
the  day,  the  ancient  "Universitas  magistrorum  et  scholarium  Parisiensium," 
a  corporation  of  masters  and  students  of  Paris. 

The  new  university  was  no  longer  at  all  theological  in  character,  the 
Faculty  of  Catholic  Theology  having  been  suppressed  since  1885,  and  the 
Faculty  of  Protestant  Theology  having  become  a  separate  school  since  the 
separation  of  the  church  and  state  in  1 906.  It  comprises  then  the  four 
faculties  of  Law,  Medicine,  Sciences,  and  Letters,  the  School  of  Pharmacy, 
whose  general  character  is  that  of  a  faculty,  and  finally  a  higher  Normal 
School,  which  was  made  a  part  of  the  university  in  1904,  and  which  is, 
for  the  Faculties  of  Sciences  and  of  Letters,  a  sort  of  pedagogic  seminary 
for  the  use  of  exceptional  young  people,  who  are  candidates  for  the  pro- 
fession of  teaching. 

Note:  It  should  be  explained  that  in  France  the  degrees  of  "  Doctor  of 
Law,"  "  Doctor  of  Letters,"  and  many  others  are  state  degrees.  They 
demand  certain  requirements  because  they  confer  special  privileges  for 
teaching  and  practising  in  France.  As  the  fulfilment  of  these  requirements 
was  of  no  interest  to  foreigners,  after  1  895  the  various  universities  estab- 
lished the  "  doctorat  universitaire  "  and  there  were  eliminated  from  its 
requirements  those  conditions  which  were  of  interest  only  to  those  who  wished 
to  get  special  privileges  within  the  state.  So  the  "  Doctor  of  Letters  of  the 
University  of  Dijon,"  for  example,  is  generally  like  the  ordinary  "  Doctor 
of  Letters  "  except  that  the  student  working  for  the  former  does  not  have 
to  meet  certain  conditions  applicable  only  to  those  who  desire  to  teach  and 
practise  in  France.  The  "  Doctor  of  Letters  of  the  University  "  corres- 
ponds to  our  Doctor  of  Philosophy. 

Further  information  about  this  may  be  obtained  in  Wigmore,  John 
Henry,  Science  and  learning  in  France,  and  in  a  manual  entitled  Les 
universites  et  Ics  ecoles  jranqai^es,  published  by  the  Office  National  des 
universites  et  ecoles  frangaises  at  Paris.  In  addition  there  is  published  in 
connection  with  almost  every  one  of  the  universities  a  little  manual  entitled 
Livrel  de  Feludiant  containing  full  information  for  students  and  costing 
about  twenty  cents. 

I  he  minister  of  public  instruction  is  cx-officio  rector,  that  is  to  say,  chief 
of  the  genera!  administration  of  the  university,  but  he  does  not  exercise 
this  function;  he  delegates  it  to  a  vice-rector,  on  whom  it  confers  con- 
siderable importance  in  the  scholastic  life  of  France.  Each  faculty  is 
presided   over   by   its   dean    (for   the   School    of   Pharmacy   he   is   called 


107 

director),  chosen  by  the  professors;  he  represents  them  before  the  rector 
and  the  minister.  A  council,  composed  of  the  rector  (chairman)  the 
deans,  the  director,  the  assistant  director  of  the  Normal  School,  the  director 
of  the  School  of  Pharmacy  and  two  professors  chosen  by  their  colleagues 
in  each  faculty  and  in  the  School  of  Pharmacy,  conducts  all  the  affairs 
of  the  university  and  decides  questions  on  its  own  initiative  in  a  great 
number  of  cases,  and  in  others  lays  before  the  minister  the  solutions  that  it 
thinks  best.  The  minister  generally  ratifies  them.  (The  same  is  true  for  all 
French  universities.     Everywhere  the  council  has  the  same  rights.) 

Instruction  is  given  at  the  university  by  masters  who  bear  a  great  variety 
of  titles:  full  professors,  associate  professors,  instructors,  lecturers  and,  in 
the  Faculties  of  Law  and  Medicine,  tutors.  This  multiplicity  at  times  sur- 
prises foreigners,  who  suppose  that  it  means  considerable  differences  in  grades 
and  functions.  This  is  not  true;  it  is  not  even  peculiar  to  the  University  of 
Paris.  This  university  hierarchy,  survival  of  an  organization  today  which 
has  nearly  disappeared,  has  only  an  administrative  and  financial  interest. 
The  full  professors  and  the  associate  enjoy  certain  honorary  and  material 
advantages,  but  the  same  scientific  standards  are  exacted  from  all,  and  the 
particular  authority  of  each  one  depends  only  upon  his  own  knowledge  and 
his  own  talent. 

In  1914  the  University  of  Paris  had  m.ore  than  350  members  in  its 
teaching  force:  49  for  law,  1  1  7  for  medicine,  76  for  sciences,  87  for  letters 
and  22  for  the  School  of  Pharmacy.  Although  this  imposing  number  per- 
mitted the  establishment  of  one  or  several  kinds  of  courses  in  all  important 
specialties  in  scientific  activity,  and  in  all  branches  of  study,  the  university 
did  not  feel  itself  entirely  satisfied  as  yet,  and  each  one  of  its  faculties 
studied  its  announcement  carefully  every  year  for  the  purpose  of  determin- 
ing the  defects  that  experience  had  shown,  and  of  finding- the  means  of 
remedying  them.  Each  one  has  prepared  its  program  of  additional  courses 
which  will  be  undertaken  after  the  war. 

In  addition,  it  ought  to  be  stated  that  higher  instruction  has  at  Paris 
auxiliary  institutions  of  the  first  importance  in  the  various  establishments  of 
the  state,  without  taking  account  of  those  which  proceed  from  private  initia- 
tive. For  example,  the  instruction  given  at  the  College  of  France,  founded 
in  the  sixteenth  century  by  Francis  I,  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  the  lack 
of  activity  in  science  in  the  university  of  that  time,  embraces  today  an  almost 
complete  course  of  study  in  all  the  great  branches  of  science  and  learning. 
The  Museum  of  Natural  History,  the  five  sections  of  the  School  of  High 
Studies,  the  School  of  Charters,  the  School  of  Living  Oriental  Languages, 
the  School  of  the  Louvre,  the  School  of  Fine  Arts,  offer  to  all  research 
workers  and  all  students,  whatever  their  degree  of  attainment  in  their  subject. 


108 

inexhaustible  resources  in  their  courses,  their  collections,  their  laboratories, 
their  seminaries.  Poor  is  the  student  of  one  of  the  faculties  who  does  not 
find  in  these  institutions  valuable  additional  resources  of  information  and  of 
profitable  instruction.  There  are  in  addition  numerous  technical  schools 
where  students  can  go  to  get  the  necessary  training  for  the  practical  applica- 
tion of  their  knowledge.  All  these  organs  of  scientific  life  complement  one 
another  and  are  unified  in  the  great  body  of  higher  education  at  Paris. 

On  January  15,  1914,  the  University  of  Paris  had  on  its  rolls  1  7,308 
students:  7569  in  the  Faculty  of  Law,  4397  in  the  Faculty  of  Medicine, 
1718  in  the  Faculty  of  Sciences,  3000  in  the  Faculty  of  Letters  and  606 
in  the  School  of  Pharmacy;  of  this  total,  foreigners  represented  more  than 
3200  members. 

To  those  foreigners  who  come  for  the  purpose  of  getting  a  general  educa- 
tion, the  university  opens  wide  all  its  doors  without  other  formahties  than 
the  registration  upon  its  books,  called  matriculation,  which  is  permitted 
upon  proof  of  identity  as  a  student  and  payment  of  an  annual  fee  of  30 
francs  ($6).  For  those  who  seek  degrees  the  university  asks  certificates 
concerning  their  previous  studies,  diplomas  which  are  to  be  compared  to 
those  which  it  exacts  from  French  students,  or  the  passing  of  admission 
examinations.  Besides  and  from  norv  on  it  gives  credit  to  strangers  for  the 
time  which  the^  have  spent  in  college  stud^  in  their  oivn  country,  as  it  seel(s 
to  credit  them  Tvith  the  results  of  college  stud^  accomplished  in  their  oivn 
lands.  All  these  facilities  are  at  this  time  subject  to  revision  and  readjust- 
ment which  must  give  still  greater  efficiency  and  flexibility. 

The  university  offers  to  its  students  public  courses  where  the  professor 
seeks  to  expound  the  results  accomplished  by  science  in  general  lectures 
easily  understood  by  everyone ;  closed  courses  reserved  for  students,  properly 
speaking;  practical  courses,  varied  according  to  the  study  to  which  they 
relate,  and  where  there  is  given  pedagogical  instruction,  material  apprentice- 
ship for  the  future  professor,  the  future  scholar  and  the  future  technician. 
Besides  the  laboratories  and  lecture  halls  and  workrooms,  well  stocked 
libraries  are  open  to  the  students.  All  these  means  of  work  were  to  receive, 
in  more  than  one  respect,  notable  additional  improvements,  when  the  war 
forced  the  interruption  of  these  realizations  and  the  postponement  of  the 
projects  planned. 

Two  of  the  faculties  of  the  university,  that  of  sciences  and  that  of  letters, 
are  housed  in  the  Sorbonne,  a  vast  modern  edifice  which  surrounds  the 
church  built  by  Cardinal  Richelieu,  and  which  harmonizes  with  it.  Scarcely 
had  the  construction  of  this  building  been  completed  when  the  rapid  develop- 
ment of  university  life  rendered  it  insufficient;  it  is  for  this  reason  that  the 
erection  of  other  buildings  has  been  undertaken  as  near  as  possible  to  the 


109 

Sorbonne  for  the  purpose  of  providing  workrooms  and  laboratories  which 
demand  more  space.  The  university  has  acquired  at  the  top  of  Montagne 
Ste  Genevieve,  a  large  tract  of  land  where  it  has  already  erected  the  Radium 
Institute  as  a  sort  of  associate  to  the  Institute  of  Ocean  Geography  of  the 
Prince  of  Monaco.  It  had  also  begun  there  the  construction  of  a  large 
Chemical  Institute  and  of  a  Geographical  Institute,  and  had  planned  for 
the  building  of  an  Institute  for  the  History  of  Art,  when  the  war  came 
and  stopped  the  work. 

The  Faculty  of  Law,  the  Faculty  of  Medicine,  the  Normal  School  and 
the  School  of  Pharmacy  have  their  own  buildings,  all  of  which  have  been 
made  the  objects  of  considerable  improvements  and  additions  under  the 
Third  Republic. 

The  Universit})  of  Paris  mshes  very  much  to  revive  the  old  traditions 
of  its  past  and  it  rvould  he  happy  and  anxious  to  see  foreign  students  take  up 
again  the  roads  rohich  lead  them  to  it  It  is  conscious  of  perhaps  not  having 
alivays  done  that  which  Was  necessary  to  attract  and  aid  them  so  as  to  make 
them  acquainted  rvith  and  make  them  love  it;  it  has  decided  to  turn  its  atten- 
tion along  these  lines  in  the  future.  Interesting  projects  are  being  elaborated 
in  its  council  and  in  the  assemblies  of  its  facilities  in  order  to  provide  for 
foreign  students  an  efficient  system  of  guidance  from  the  time  of  their  arrival 
at  Paris,  for  the  purpose  of  making  easy  to  students  the  taking  up  of  their 
residence  in  the  great  city,  all  of  which  things  will  certainly  be  realized 
from  the  time  that  the  normal  life  of  peace  shall  be  established. 

UNIVERSITY  OF  NANCY 

Lorraine  has  not  only  iron  mines  which  are  regarded  as  among  the  richest 
in  the  world;  coal  mines,  which  need  only  to  be  worked,  have  been  dis- 
covered there;  it  is  rich  in  mines  of  salt;  and  the  works  of  Dombasle- 
Meurthe  are  among  the  first  in  the  world  in  the  production  of  soda. 
Lorraine  is  moreover  an  agricultural  region.  It  cultivates  hops ;  the  Vosges 
pastures  are  famous ;  and  a  large  part  of  the  soil  is  covered  with  forests. 

For  all  these  reasons,  the  University  of  Nancy  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
century  has  been  engaged  in  establishing  and  organizing  technical  branches 
suited  to  the  needs  of  the  region. 

First  was  the  Chemical  Institute,  from  which  have  gone  out  since  I  890, 
525  chemical  engineers.  Next  the  Institute  of  Electro-technology  with  422 
electrical  engineers  since  1901  ;  then  the  Institute  of  AppHed  Mechanics, 
127  mechanical  engineers  since  1907.  A  School  of  Brewing  and  a  School 
of  Dairying  were  plainly  indicated  in  this  region;  and  the  Faculty  of 
Sciences  and  the  university  have  not  failed  to  make  them  realities.  The 
same  is  true  of  an  Agricultural  Institute  and  an  Institute  of  Geology.     One 


no 

of  the  great  state  schools,  the  National  School  of  Waters  and  Forests,  like- 
wise has  its  seat  at  Nancy. 

Nancy  is  not  only  the  capital  of  Lorraine  but  of  eastern  France:  it  is 
a  center  for  industry,  commerce  and  finance  for  the  banks  of  that  region. 
A  Higher  School  of  Commerce  and  a  Commercial  Institute  of  the  Univer- 
sity are  maintained  under  the  auspices  of  the  Nancy  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce and  the  Industrial  Society  of  the  East. 

Outside  of  these  specialized  branches  the  university  has  remained  faithful 
to  pure  science.  Lorraine  is  in  fact  the  country  of  mathematicians  like 
Hermite,  born  at  Dieuze  (Lorraine  annexed),  and  Henri  Poincare,  born 
at  Nancy. 

The  Faculty  of  Medicine  of  Strassburg,  transferred  to  Nancy  after  the 
unfortunate  war  of  1870-71,  has  become  Lorraine,  without  ceasing  to  be 
Alsatian,  through  its  professors  and  its  teachers.  The  Higher  School  of 
Pharmacy  of  Strassburg  has  likewise  been  hospitably  received  in  our  city. 
Nancy  is  then  an  important  center  of  medical  and  pharmaceutical  studies. 

The  Faculty  of  Letters  has  added  to  its  courses  in  literature,  philosophy, 
history  and  living  languages  (Enghsh  and  German),  a  course  in  French 
for  the  benefit  of  ])oung  foreigners.  Up  to  1914  special  courses  for  the  last 
named  were  carried  on  through  the  year,  vacations  included,  particularly 
from  1 903 ;  an  average  of  1  75  male  and  female  students  pursued  them 
(without  counting  the  numerous  foreigners  attracted  by  the  technical  insti- 
tutes, an  aggregate  rising  to  seven  or  eight  hundred  a  year).  This  patronage 
came  particularly  from  Russia  and  the  Balkan  countries. 

The  Faculty  of  Law,  which  is  first  in  the  university  hierarchy,  has 
always  regarded  it  as  an  honor  to  have  its  share  of  foreign  students  seeking 
at  Nancy  the  completion  of  their  advanced  legal  studies. 

The  University  of  Nancy,  which  counted  in  1914  as  many  as  2248 
students,  awaits  the  end  of  the  war  to  resume  its  work  under  altogether  new 
conditions.  After  the  victorious  peace  which  will  restore  Alsace  and 
Lorraine,  it  will  no  longer  be  a  frontier  university  but  the  center  of  a  region 
whose  industry  and  commerce  are  to  receive  a  most  vigorous  impetus.  It 
will  continue  then  to  unite  with  its  advanced  instruction  in  the  theoretical 
sciences  the  different  courses  of  its  technical  institutes. 

More  than  this,  it  will  aliva^s  he  one  of  the  universities  of  France  which 
will  ottracl,  on  account  of  geographical  situation,  the  greatest  number  of 
foreigners.  The})  are  sure  to  meet  here  again  the  Welcome  which  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century  has  made  this  city  one  of  the  principal  centers  of 
France  for  students  from  abroad. 

Let  us  add  that  Lorraine,  besides  its  natural  attractions  (its  mines,  its 
workshops,  its  rivers,  its  forests  and  the  Vosges)  will  henceforth  be  a  shrine 


Ill 

of  patriotic  pilgrimage,  with  its  souvenirs  of  the  Grand  Couronne  de  Nancy, 
its  burned  villages,  its  cities  which  have  suffered  from  the  war,  and  not  far 
from  Nancy,  Verdun,  whose  sublime  resistance  in  1916  saved  France  and 
humanity. 

UNIVERSITY  OF  DIJON 

The  University  of  Dijon  has  a  Faculty  of  Law,  a  Faculty  of  Sciences, 
a  Faculty  of  Letters  and  a  School  of  Medicine  and  of  Pharmacy. 

The  Faculty  of  Law  was  founded  at  the  opening  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury. They  teach  there  not  only  the  same  subjects  as  in  the  other  French 
faculties  of  law,  but  there  is  also  given  a  course  in  the  history  of  Burgun- 
dian  law.  With  the  Faculty  of  Law  are  closely  associated  a  Practical 
Institute  of  Law  and  a  School  of  Notaries. 

Ihe  Faculty  of  Sciences,  in  which  natural  history  and  biology  are  made 
a  specialty,  has  two  important  annexes :  ( 1  )  the  Institute  of  Oenology  of 
Burgundy,  the  first  in  time  if  not  the  only  one  known  in  France,  where  the 
principles  of  the  manufacture  of  wine  are  studied  and  taught,  and  which 
comprises  three  sections,  namely,  oenological  station,  agronomical  station  and 
Pasteur  station;  (2)  Aquicultural  Grimaldi  station,  established  at  Saint 
Jean  de  Losne  (30  kilometers  from  Dijon)  where  the  fauna  and  the  flora 
of  the  fresh  waters  of  the  Saone  and  of  the  neighboring  ponds  and  canals  are 
studied.  The  natural  history  museum  and  botanical  garden  of  Dijon  are  in 
close  relation  with  the  Faculty  of  Sciences. 

The  Faculty  of  Letters  has  as  particular  characteristics  a  chair  in  the 
history  of  Burgundy  and  of  Burgundian  art,  and  a  chair  in  the  dialects  and 
literature  of  Burgundy. 

The  School  of  Medicine  and  of  Pharmacy  gives  instruction  to  students 
in  a  four-year  course. 

The  library  of  the  university  has  about  70,000  volumes  without  counting 
the  foreign  theses. 

The  library  of  the  city  of  Dijon  places  at  the  disposition  of  the  students 
about  120,000  volumes  and  pamphlets,  21  1  incunabula  and  1726  manu- 
scripts. There  is  scarcely  a  work  of  importance  on  Burgundy  that  it  does 
not  possess  and  in  some  cases  it  has  the  only  one  in  existence.  The  archives 
of  the  department  of  Cote  d'Or  and  the  municipal  archives  are  very  rich  in 
material. 

Lastly,  besides  the  university,  Dijon  possesses  a  flourishing  high  school 
of  comm.erce. 

Foreigners  can,  upon  registration,  attend  all  the  ordinary  courses  and 
conferences  in  the  university.  Besides  there  have  been  created  for  their 
exclusive  benefit  special  courses:  first,  during  the  whole  academic  year  (first 


112 

semester,  from  the  10th  of  November  to  the  28th  of  February;  second 
semester  from  the  1  st  of  March  to  the  20th  of  June)  ;  then  during  the 
vacation  (from  the  1st  of  July  to  the  30th  of  October).  These  are  given 
in  the  Faculty  of  Letters.  The^  comprise  practical  exercises  (conversation, 
reading  and  explanation  of  literar})  texts  and  of  newspapers,  written  exer- 
cises); courses  in  phonetics  (rviih  exercises  in  pronunciation) ;  French  litera- 
ture, and  linguistics,  courses  in  French  history),  geography  and  the  develop- 
ment of  French  life  and  thought.  During  the  vacation,  commercial  courses 
are  given  in  addition  to  these. 

Besides  the  degrees  of  the  state,  which  are  given  under  certain  conditions, 
foreign  students  can  obtain  the  following  degrees: 

Faculty  of  Law 

1  Degree  of  doctor  of  law  of  the  University  of  Dijon 

2  Degree  of  bachelor  of  law  of  the  University  of  Dijon 

3  Certificate  of  studies  in  legal,  political  or  economic  sciences 

4  Certificate  of  practical  studies  in  law 

Faculty  of  Sciences 

1  Degree  of  doctor  of  sciences  of  the  University  of  Dijon 

2  Degree  of  superior  studies  in  oenology 

Faculty  of  Letters 

1  Degree  of  doctor  of  letters  of  the  University  of  Dijon 

2  Degree  of  bachelor  in  French 

3  Degree  in  French  studies 

4  Certificate  in  the  French  language 

Vacation  Courses 

1  Diploma  in  French,  first  grade 

2  Diploma  in  French,  second  grade 

The  committee  of  patronage  watches  over  the  material  and  moral  well- 
being  of  the  foreign  students.  It  furnishes  them  b^  correspondence  with  the 
information  which  they  may  need;  it  places  itself  at  their  service,  from  the 
time  of  their  arrival,  in  matters  of  lodging  and  board;  it  helps  them  in  the 
difficulties  which  may  be  encountered.  In  addition,  meetings  and  excur- 
sions are  provided,  especially  during  the  season  of  fine  weather. 

The  General  Society  of  the  Students  of  Dijon  receives  as  members 
foreign  students  as  well  as  French  students. 

Dijon  is  situated  in  a  very  healthful  and  very  airy  region  on  the  lowest 


11^ 

foothills  of  the  Plateau  de  Langres,  at  the  beginning  of  the  plain  of  the 
Saone,  and  at  the  commencement  of  the  chain  of  vine-covered  hills  vv^hich 
the  Burgundians  call  the  Cote,  but  which  has  given  to  the  entire  department 
the  significant  name  of  Cote  d'Or. 

Dijon  is  above  all  a  historical  city,  as  one  perceives  quite  at  the  start, 
by  its  narrow  streets,  its  numerous  old  houses,  its  mansions  (great  private 
residences)  of  serene  and  artistic  aspect,  which  formerly  sheltered  the 
families  of  the  members  of  the  Burgundian  Parliament. 

Many  monuments  recall  its  illustrious  past:  the  cathedral  of  Sciint  Benigne 
and  the  church  of  Notre  Dame,  two  jewels  of  Burgundian  Gothic  art  (the 
crypt  of  Saint  Benigne  is  late  Romanesque),  the  church  of  Saint  Michel, 
which  dates  in  the  main  from  the  Renaissance;  the  immense  Palace  of  the 
Dukes,  where  one  visits  the  Hall  of  the  Estates  of  Burgundy,  the  Tour  de 
la  Terrasse,  the  Tour  de  Bar  (both  of  the  fourteenth  century)  and  the 
huge  kitchens  of  the  dukes  of  Burgundy,  etc.  At  the  gates  of  Dijon  is 
found  the  Chartreuse  de  Champmol,  which  was  for  the  great  dukes  of 
Burgundy  what  Saint  Denis  was  for  the  kings  of  France;  there  we  admire 
above  all  the  Puits  de  Moise,  a  sculptural  masterpiece  of  the  fifteenth 
century. 

The  Museum  of  Dijon  is  one  of  the  richest  museums  of  the  French 
provinces,  particularly  on  account  of  its  picture  galleries.  The  archeological 
museum  is  joined  to  it. 

Besides  its  great  historical  interest,  Dijon  is  a  very  lively  town,  with  its 
population  of  nearly  80,000  inhabitants,  its  highly  flourishing  trade  and 
its  girdle  of  workshops  and  factories. 

The  region  of  Burgundy  supplies  easy  and  pleasant  excursions.  Le 
Morvan  (name  applied  to  the  Burgundy  district)  owes  its  particular  char- 
acter to  its  granitic  soil ;  along  the  Cote  extends  the  splendor  of  the  vineyards 
so  renowned;  the  valley  of  the  Saone  is  a  wide  plain  rich  and  smiling;  the 
more  narrow  valleys  of  the  Ouche,  the  Suzon,  the  Cure,  the  Cousin,  the 
upper  Seine  and  of  many  other  rivers  are  attractive  and  often  even  truly 
beautiful. 

Numerous  localities,  preserve  landmarks  and  aspects  representing  all  the 
epochs:  Alise,  the  Alesia  of  Caesar,  where  scientific  excavations  have,  so 
to  speak,  made  a  Gallo-Roman  city  live  again ;  Autun,  with  its  Roman  ruins ; 
Flavigny,  the  old  town  of  medieval  aspect;  Vezelay,  \vith  its  Romanesque 
church  everywhere  famous;  the  Abbey  of  Cluny;  Auxerre,  Semur,  which 
possess  a  very  pronounced  historical  appearance ;  Beaune,  the  city  of  wines, 
remarkable  by  reason  of  its  magnificent  hospital  and  its  famous  reredos, 
attributed  to  Van  der  Weyden,  etc. ;  and,  belonging  to  a  wholly  different 
order  of  things,  Creusot,  whose  formidable  workshops  have  not  their  equal 
in  France. 


u 


UNIVERSITY   OF    LYONS 

The  University  of  Lyons  is  the  most  important  of  the  French  universi- 
ties after  that  of  Paris.  It  is  situated  in  an  industrial  and  commercial 
center  of  the  first  rank,  celebrated  for  some  hundreds  of  years  for  its  manu- 
factures of  silk,  one  to  which  the  demands  of  the  w^ar  have  given  an  expan- 
sion still  more  remarkable.  The  population  of  the  city  is  521,000, 
increased  to  700,000  ith  the  immediate  surroundings. 

In  addition  to  the  considerable  resources  offered  by  the  university  itself, 
the  learned  societies,  the  museums,  the  libraries,  famous  philanthropic  insti- 
tutions, numerous  schools  of  applied  science,  commercial  and  industrial, 
make  Lyons  an  intellectual  center  rivaling  the  most  renowned. 

Finally,  the  beauty  and  the  vivacity  of  the  city,  which  was  formerly  the 
capital  of  Celtic  Gaul  and  never  ceased  to  play  an  important  role,  and 
the  magnificence  of  the  surrounding  country  (Monts  du  Lyonnais,  the  Alps 
of  Dauphiny)  recommend  L^ons  to  foreigners  as  an  agreeable  ci/p  and 
center  of  tourist  travel,  as  rvell  as  a  source  of  instruction. 

Living  here  is  easy  and  not  expensive.  F  oreigners  find  it  easy  to  obtain 
lodging  at  hotels  or  in  famihes. 

The  University  of  Lyons  possesses  a  Faculty  of  Law,  a  Faculty  of 
Medicine  and  of  Pharmacy,  a  Faculty  of  Sciences,  and  a  Faculty  of 
Letters,  commanding  the  services  of  1  60  professors,  to  whom  is  joined  an 
auxiliary  corps  of  1 00  teachers.  In  this  city,  essentially  industrious  and 
serious,  students  are  used  to  assiduous  labor;  their  successes  in  the  great 
competitive  examinations  are  beyond  reckoning. 

1  he  new  university,  inaugurated  in  1 896,  cost  more  than  ten  million 
francs,  and  from  that  time  considerable  sums  have  been  expended  for 
buildings  and  supplementary  improvements. 

A  preparatory  course  and  vacation  courses  have  been  organized  for  the 
foreign  students. 

Faculty  of  Laiv 
Besides  the  ordinary  teaching,  the  Faculty  of  Law  has  established  an 
Institute  of  Sociology  and  Social  Sciences,  which  gives  to  foreigners  valuable 
facilities  for  their  initiation  into  the  organization  of  French  social  life.  Let 
us  emphasize  the  fact  that  by  the  side  of  the  university  exists  a  Free  Semi- 
nary of  Oriental  Juridical  and  Social  Studies,  which  completes  the  instruc- 
tion of  the  same  nature  given  at  the  university,  designed  for  students  who 
wish  to  explore  Asiatic  civilizations.  The  University  of  Lyons  has  in  fact 
made  a  specialty  in  France  of  oriental  studies  and  intellectual  relations  with 
the  Levant  and  Asia. 


115 

Paculi})  of  Medicine  and  Pharmacj) 

TKe  great  reputation  of  its  professors  has  made  this  faculty  one  of  the 
most  famous  in  the  world.  It  is  necessary,  moreover,  especially  to  indicate 
the  opportunities  offered  to  students  by  the  hospitals  of  Lyons,  which  receive 
cases  from  about  fifteen  departments.  The  entire  southeast  of  France  is 
tributary  to  the  hospitals  of  Lyons  for  the  cure  of  difficult  diseases  and  for 
delicate  surgical  operations.  The  clinical  lectures,  which  are  very 
numerous,  are  not  overwhelmed  with  students,  and  the  students  of  the 
faculty  can  freely  examine  the  patients  and  receive  very  profitable  practical 
teaching.     The  resources  for  dissection  are  also  considerable. 

(Its  best  recommendation  to  us  in  America  is  that  Dr  Carrel  had  his 
medical  training  there.     J.  H.  F.). 

Independent  of  the  university,  there  are  found  at  Lyons  a  Bacteriological 
Institute,  or  Pasteur  Institute,  and  a  School  of  Military  Sanitation,  which 
receives  specially  authorized  students  of  foreign  nationality. 

Faculty  oj  Sciences 

In  addition  to  the  courses  which  are  found  in  all  the  French  faculties, 
the  Faculty  of  Sciences  of  Lyons  possesses  an  Institute  of  Chemistry  and  a 
School  of  Tannery. 

The  Institute  of  Chemistry  trains  heads  of  industries,  directors,  chemical 
engineers,  technical  and  commercial  employees  for  the  different  industries 
which  are  attached  to  chemistry. 

The  School  of  Tannery,  established  under  the  patronage  of  the  Genera! 
Syndicate  of  Leathers  and  Hides  of  France,  trains  young  persons  who  will 
devote  themselves  to  trade,  to  manufacture  in  leathers  and  hides  and  to  the 
associated  industries. 

Faculty  of  Letters 

1  he  instruction  supplied  by  the  Faculty  of  Letters  is  very  rich  and 
embraces  subjects  which  are  not  treated  in  the  majority  of  the  other  provin- 
cial faculties ;  for  example,  Sanscrit  and  the  literature  of  India,  Egyptology, 
Arabic,  Chinese  and  school  hygiene.  The  historical  disciplines  form  a 
very  complete  group.  Many  professors,  fellows  in  history  at  the  French 
lycees,  have  prepared  themselves  at  Lyons.  The  antiquities  of  Lyonnais, 
the  history  of  Lyons  and  of  the  region,  are  especially  studied.  There  are 
two  chairs  of  the  history  of  art  and  a  course  in  the  history  of  music. 

Lyons  possesses  a  great  number  of  professional  and  technical  schools  and 
schools  of  art  outside  of  the  university,  and  celebrated  museums  as  well  as 
rich  libraries.  The  university  itself  possesses  an  assembly  of  museums  of 
which  no  other,  even  that  of  Paris,  has  the  equal:  Museum  of  Casts  (900 


116 

specimens  of  Egyptian,  Greek  and  Roman  art).  Geographical  Museum 
rich  museums  of  the  Faculty  of  Medicine,  and  Museum  of  Pedagogy. 

There  are  at  Lyons  several  theaters,  and  a  Society  of  Grand  Concerts, 
which  gives  performances  of  high  reputation. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  GRENOBLE 

Among  the  university  cities  of  France,  Grenoble  holds  a  place  apart 
and  merits  special  mention.  Its  situation  in  the  heart  of  the  Alps  of 
Dauphiny  and  the  beauty  of  the  country  which  surrounds  it  have  made 
it  one  of  the  most  important  centers  for  touring.  It  is  partly  this,  too,  that 
explains  the  attraction  Tvhich  it  exercises  for  foreign  students,  but  their 
preference  arises  especially  from  the  educational  creations  which  char- 
acterize its  university,  responding  admirably  to  the  needs  of  this  special 
student  patronage. 

Its  Faculties  of  Law,  of  Sciences,  and  of  Letters,  its  preparatory 
School  of  Medicine  and  of  Pharmacy,  are,  like  all  similar  establishments, 
organized  and  equipped  with  the  view  as  much  to  preparation  for  the  state 
degrees  as  to  scientific  research.  But  new  institutes,  departments  and 
courses  have  just  been  added,  which  favor  particular  studies  crowned  by 
special  diplomas,  and  it  is  this  group  of  original  creations  that  gives  the 
University  of  Grenoble  its  distinguishing  character. 

The  Faculty  of  Law  possesses  an  Institute  of  Commercial  Instruction 
which  gives  to  the  students  who  will  devote  themselves  to  commercial 
careers,  suitable  instruction  embracing  all  useful  theoretical  and  practical 
branches. 

To  the  Faculty  of  Sciences  is  attached  a  whole  group  of  schools  of 
equal  reputation  in  the  scientific  world  and  in  the  centers  of  industry.  One 
of  them  is  the  Institute  of  Geology,  which  is  especially  organized  for  the 
study  of  questions  concerning  the  region  of  the  French  Alps,  and  which 
has  already  brought  together  a  great  number  of  scientific  men  and  foreign 
students.  Equal  favor  has  been  manifested  toward  its  Institute  of  Zoology 
and  Pisciculture,  which  has  made  a  specialty  of  the  study  of  the  fauna 
of  the  fresh  waters  of  the  Alpine  regions. 

In  addition,  the  noteworthy  development  of  certain  local  industries  has 
brought  about  a  cooperation  more  close  from  day  to  day  between  the 
Faculty  of  Sciences  and  the  industrial  world,  whether  in  the  direction  of 
research  and  technical  application,  in  the  conduct  of  assays,  measurements 
and  analyses,  or  finally  in  the  formation  of  the  necessary  professional  char- 
acter. Out  of  these  spring  three  creations  now  in  full  prosperity  and  which 
the  circumstances  born  of  the  war  will  continue  to  favor:    the  department 


117 

of  electro-chemistry  and  electro-metallurgy,  the  French  School  of  Paper- 
making,  and  lastly  the  Polytechnic  Institute,  which,  as  regards  the  £cole 
Superieure  of  the  electrical  industries,  is  one  of  the  first  French  technical 
establishments. 

On  its  side,  the  Faculty  of  Letters,  which  has  created  the  French  Insti- 
tute of  Florence,  possesses  at  Grenoble  itself  several  institutions  already 
very  well  knoxvn  lo  American  students.  Its  Institute  of  Alpine  Geography 
has  had  a  brilliant  rise  to  a  place  beside  the  Institute  of  Geology,  and 
the  two  offer  for  the  study  of  the  French  Alps  an  assembly,  altogether 
unique,  of  courses,  collections,  libraries  etc.  A  creation  not  less  original 
is  its  Institute  of  Phonics,  especially  designed  and  equipped  for  the 
theoretical  and  experimental  study  of  the  spoken  word.  Finally,  side  by 
side  with  these  regular  courses,  the  Faculty  of  Letters  of  Grenoble  first 
in  France  constructed  a  course  intended  for  foreigners  who  desire  to  perfect 
themselves  in  the  knowledge  of  our  country,  of  its  language,  of  its  literature, 
of  its  history,  etc.  This  instruction,  given  by  professors  of  the  university 
and  the  lycee  and  by  lecturers  from  outside  whom  the  university  invites, 
comprises  special  courses  which  are  given  during  the  entire  scholastic  year 
and  vacation  courses  maintained  during  the  summer  from  the  1st  of  July  to 
the  3 1st  of  October.  It  attracted  every  year  before  the  war  1 500  students 
from  all  parts  of  the  world. 

Another  characteristic  of  the  University  of  Grenoble  is  the  variety  of 
the  degrees  which  it  has  created  for  most  of  the  official  grades  and  titles 
to  support  the  particular  studies  which  it  has  established.  The  chief  of 
these  university  degrees  are  the  following:  doctor  of  law  of  the  University 
of  Grenoble,  doctor  of  sciences  of  the  University  of  Grenoble,  doctor  of 
letters  of  the  University  of  Grenoble,  degree  of  the  Institute  of  Commercial 
Education,  degree  of  electrical  engineer,  degree  of  ingenieur-papetier 
(engineer  in  paper-making),  degree  of  advanced  French  studies,  certifi- 
cate of  French  studies,  degree  of  higher  studies  in  French  phonics,  etc. 

Lastly,  one  of  the  organs  of  the  University  of  Crenoble  most  appreciated 
by  foreign  students  is  its  committee  of  patronage,  which  by  every  means 
in  its  power  facilitates  their  coming  to  Crenoble  and  their  residence.  The 
committee  has  a  permanent  bureau,  perfectly  organized,  furnished  with 
a  special  room  in  the  hall  of  the  University.  It  supplies  them  with  the 
information  particularly  related  to  their  studies ;  it  procures  them  facilities 
for  travel ;  it  assists  them  in  matters  of  board  and  residence,  pointing  out 
the  famiHes  and  boarding  places  which  are  able  to  accommodate  them 
and  furnish  guarantees  of  character;  it  manages  for  their  benefit  magnifi- 
cent excursions  in  the  Alps  and  even  to  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean. 

The  committee  of  patronage  of  foreign  students  has  gone  to  considerable 


118 

expense  in  their  behalf.  It  has  bestowed  on  them  a  Ubrary  and  a  newspaper 
and  magazine  room,  rooms  for  special  courses  and  a  laboratory  of  phonics. 
Buildings,  embellished  with  gardens  and  a  court  planted  with  old  trees,  have 
been  provided  for  their  special  use.  Nowhere  do  foreign  students  find 
themselves  surrounded  by  more  effective  and  more  paternal  care. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  MONTPELLIER 

From  the  twelfth  century  Montpellier  has  been  a  center  of  higher  studies: 
what  the  University  of  Paris  was  in  the  middle  ages  for  theology,  the 
University  of  Bologna  for  law,  that  of  Montpellier  was  for  medicine. 

I  ime  has  passed  and  institutions  have  been  transformed.  But  the  worship 
of  science  has  continued  to  be  a  beloved  tradition  to  the  people  of  Mont- 
pellier ;  and  several  families  which  have  numbered  among  their  ancestors, 
professors,  particularly  professors  of  medicine,  constitute  a  living  tie  between 
the  present  and  the  past. 

Montpellier  is  a  complete  university  center :  it  has  its  four  faculties  — 
Law,  Medicine,  Sciences,  and  Letters,  completed  by  a  Higher  School  of 
Pharmacy. 

Outside  its  university  foundations  for  higher  education,  Montpellier 
possesses  a  Higher  School  of  Agriculture,  in  which  questions  relating  to 
viticulture  are,  as  one  would  naturally  think,  the  object  of  exhaustive 
studies. 

The  Faculty  of  Medicine  has  in  the  way  of  annexes :  ( 1 )  two  great 
hospitals,  the  Suburban  Hospital  and  the  General  Hospital;  (2)  Maternity 
Hospital;  (3)  Clinic  of  Ophthalmology;  (4)  The  Bouisson-Bertrand 
Institute,  founded  in  1 890,  thanks  to  the  generosity  of  Mme  Bouisson, 
widow  of  a  former  dean,  for  the  treatment  of  rabies  and  preparation  of 
different  serums. 

The  Jardin  des  Plantes,  the  oldest  in  France,  where  all  the  illustrious 
botanists  have  taught  or  studied  from  the  time  of  Rondelet,  friend  of 
Rabelais,  to  that  of  Aug.  Pyramus  de  Candolle,  is  situated  a  few  steps  from 
the  Faculty  of  Medicine  and  incloses  the  Institute  of  Botany  with  its  justly 
celebrated  herbariums.  This  near  association  of  different  scientific  institutions 
one  with  another  is  one  of  the  characteristic  features  of  Montpellier. 

Montpellier  contains  two  important  libraries,  namely,  that  of  the  uni- 
versity and  that  of  the  city.  By  happy  chance  they  supplement  each  other. 
Each  contains  more  than  I  30,000  volumes.  We  must  join  to  them  that 
of  the  Academy  of  Sciences  and  Letters,  which,  by  reason  of  exchanges 
with  the  learned  societies  of  the  whole  world,  possesses  a  valuable  collection 
of  periodicals. 


119 

We  have  spoken  only  of  institutions  situated  in  the  city  itself  or  in  the 
suburbs  of  Montpelher.  We  must  add  to  these  the  zoological  station  of 
Cette  (30  kilometers  from  Montpellier,  half  an  hour  by  railroad),  estab- 
lished thirty  years  ago  by  the  well-known  zoologist  Armand  Sabatier,  and 
the  botanical  laboratory  of  Aigoual  (half  a  day's  journey  from  Mont- 
pellier) ,  founded  some  years  ago  by  Professor  Flahault  on  the  slopes  of 
the  mountain.  Aigoual  furnishes  excursions  which  tourists  in  love  with  the 
picturesque,  and  not  botanists  alone,  can  take  with  interest. 

Other  excursions,  possessing  the  liveliest  attractions,  can  be  undertaken 
at  Montpellier.  It  requires  but  half  a  day  to  go  to  Nimes  and  return, 
a  day  for  the  Pont  du  Gard,  for  Aigues-Mortes,  a  day  or  two  for  Avignon, 
Aries,  Les  Baux,  and  a  day  and  a  half  for  Carcassonne.  Under  the 
auspices  of  the  Association  of  the  Friends  of  the  University  and  of  the 
committee  of  patronage  of  foreign  students,  excursions  are  taken  from  time 
to  time  at  an  expense  which  makes  them  available  even  to  modest  purses. 

Much  more  might  be  said  about  Montpellier,  but  it  is  necessary  to  observe 
limitations.  Besides,  at  this  verp  time,  under  the  auspices  of  the  University 
Council,  a  volume  is  in  preparation  Tvliich  in  a  concise  form  and  at  a  mod- 
erate price  Tvill  supply  all  the  information  desirable  touching  the  past  and 
present  of  the  University  of  Montpellier. 

UNIVERSITY  OF  TOULOUSE 

The  University  of  Toulouse  is  one  of  the  oldest  French  universities.  It 
goes  back  to  the  thirteenth  century  and  has  not  ceased  to  prosper.  It 
possesses  four  faculties:  Law,  Medicine  and  Pharmacy,  Sciences,  and  Let- 
ters; six  institutes:  agricultural,  chemical,  electro-technological,  hydrologi- 
cal,  hydrobiological,  and  one  of  southern  studies :  also  two  observatories  and 
a  rich  library. 

These  different  institutions  were  attended  before  the  war  by  3500 
students,  of  whom  600  were  foreign. 

At  Toulouse  foreign  students  find  residence  agreeable  and  living  easy, 
under  a  mild  s/fp,  in  the  midst  of  a  picturesque  region.  The  streets  of  the 
city  reserve  numerous  surprises  for  the  pedestrian.  At  every  step  he  dis- 
covers an  old  tower,  an  ancient  stairway,  a  window  with  cross-bars,  a 
column,  a  precious  relic  of  elegant  or  graceful  outline.  Romanesque 
architecture,  Gothic  art  and  the  Renaissance  have  bequeathed  to  1  oulouse 
numerous  masterpieces  which  command  the  admiration  of  all  visitors.  More- 
over, Toulouse,  situated  at  the  foot  of  the  Pyrenean  region,  is  a  center 
of  travel.  Numerous  railroad  lines  carry  tourists  to  the  different  sites 
which  extend  from  Ax-les-Thermes  to  Cauterets  by  the  way  of  Luchon  and 


120 

Bagneres-de-Bigorre.  The  Alpine  Club  (for  the  central  Pyrenees  section) 
arranges  regular  excursions  to  the  most  picturesque  parts  of  the  region. 
Students  can  be  registered  in  this  society  and  share  in  the  advantages 
granted  to  its  members  by  the  railroad  companies. 

Arriving  at  Toulouse,  foreign  students  are  informed  of  all  that  con- 
cerns their  home  life  or  their  school  life  fclj  a  bureau  of  information  located 
at  the  Faculty)  of  Letters,  rvhich  is  open  everp  Jap  except  Sunday  during 
the  school  ^ear.  The  university  also  possesses  a  committee  of  patronage, 
of  which  the  rector  is  the  head,  made  up  of  consuls,  prominent  residents 
of  1  oulouse,  and  professors  of  the  university.  This  committee  exerts  itself 
in  smoothing  the  difficulties  which  every  young  man,  while  ignorant  of  the 
language  and  French  manners,  is  likely  to  meet  with  in  the  city.  This 
committee  assumes  the  duty  of  corresponding  with  families  which  seek  infor- 
mation regarding  the  work  and  conduct  of  the  students ;  it  receives  any  sums 
which  the  families  wish  to  entrust  to  it  in  paying  the  tuition  of  students  or 
meeting  their  expenses.  And  in  a  general  way  the  committee  serves  as  inter- 
mediary between  the  students,  their  families  and  the  university 
administration. 

It  is  not  solely  by  its  situation  or  the  material  advantages  offered  to 
foreign  students  that  the  University  of  Toulouse  is  distinguished,  since  there 
are  few  which  have  organizations  so  thoroughly  scientific.  To  the  Faculty  of 
Law  is  joined  a  Practical  School  of  Law;  to  the  Faculty  of  Medicine,  an 
Institute  of  Hydrology,  in  which  the  composition  and  uses  of  all  the  thermal 
riches  of  the  Pyrenees  region  are  subjects  of  study.  The  Faculty  of 
Sciences  possesses  perfectly  equipped  technical  institutes,  well  administered, 
in  which  the  courses  are  given  by  professors  of  the  Faculty  of  Sciences,  and 
by  competent  engineers  (railway,  mail  and  telegraph  engineers,  foresters, 
professors  of  the  Veterinary  School,  etc.).  Lastly,  the  Faculty  of  Letters 
possesses  an  Institute  of  Southern  Studies,  in  which  more  particularly  the 
language,  the  literature,  the  art  and  the  ancient  institutions  of  southern 
France  are  pursued. 

Foreign  students  are  thus  assured  that  the})  will  find  at  the  University 
of  Toulouse  all  that  they  can  desire,  rvhether  from  the  material  or  thex^ 
educational  point  of  vieiv. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CAEN 

The  University  of  Caen,  already  nearly  five  centuries  old,  was  founded 
in  1432  in  the  time  of  Henry  VI,  King  of  England,  then  in  control  of 
Normandy.  It  wcis  recognized  legally  by  Charles  VII,  King  of  France,  in 
I  452.    Suppressed  at  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  and  restored  in  a  different 


121 

form  by  Napoleon  I,  it  actually  comprises  three  faculties  (Law,  Sciences 
and  Letters)  and  a  School  of  Medicine  and  of  Pharmacy. 

T  he  city  of  Caen,  a  city  of  moderate  size  (48,000  inhabitants)  is  to 
be  counted,  because  of  the  beauty  of  its  monuments  and  the  abundance  of 
its  historical  remains,  among  the  most  interesting  of  France  and  among  those 
which  have  best  kept  their  ancient  character.  William  the  Conqueror  and 
his  wife  the  Duchess  Matilda  founded  there  two  celebrated  abbeys,  which 
contain  their  tombs ;  besides  these  two  churches  one  can  name  several 
others,  of  a  later  period,  which  are  scarcely  less  remarkable.  The  charming 
river,  the  Orne,  cuts  through  Caen,  and  the  active  port,  the  eighth  in  impor- 
tance in  France,  gives  an  air  of  activity  to  this  old  city.  The  sea  is  close 
by  (only  ten  miles)  with  a  number  of  well-known  beaches.  Near  Caen 
are  to  be  found  the  old  cities  of  Bayeux  (with  its  cathedral  and  its  cele- 
brated tapestry),  Falaise  (with  the  chateau  where  William  the  Conqueror 
was  born).  Dives  (from  which  the  Norman  fleet  departed  for  the  conquest 
of  England),  Lisieux  (cathedral),  Honfleur  (which  dominates  the  beauti- 
ful mouth  of  the  Seine) .  At  a  short  distance,  some  of  the  most  beautiful 
regions  of  Normandy  are  to  be  found,  among  others  the  valley  of  the  Orne 
known  by  the  name  of  Norman  Switzerland,  the  Vaux  de  Vire  and  the 
Bocage. 

The  climate  of  Caen  is  very  mild.  The  city  is  on  the  main  line  from 
Cherbourg  to  Paris  (two  and  one-half  hours  from  Cherbourg,  four  hours 
from  Paris)  ;  one  can  equally  well  come  from  Havre  by  steamboat  in 
two  and  one-half  hours. 

Faculty)  of  LaXD 

The  Faculty  of  Law  of  Caen  has  always  been  considered  one  of  the  first 
rank  among  French  faculties  of  law  and  enjoys  a  reputation  all  its  own. 
Several  of  the  most  eminent  lawyers  of  modern  France  have  been  its  pro- 
fessors or  its  students. 

This  faculty  gives  instruction  in  all  branches  of  public  and  private  law 
and  of  political  economy,  and  prepares  for  all  the  examinations  of  a  legal 
kind.  Among  these  examinations  there  is  one  which  is  intended  for  foreign 
students  and  which  can  be  obtained  by  them  without  having  pzissed  through 
the  lower  grades:    that  is  the  doctor  of  laws  of  the  University  of  Caen. 

Faculty  of  Sciences 
The  professors  of  the  Faculty  of  Sciences  of  Caen  prepare  their  students 
for  various  university  degrees,  and  after  original  research  in  its  laboratories, 
for  the  degree  of  higher  studies  (for  which  no  previous  degree  is  demanded) , 
and  for  the  doctorate  of  sciences. 


122 

The  Technical  Institute  of  Normandy  prepares  for  the  degrees  of 
engineer  of  the  University  of  Caen  (of  a  class  designated  electro-technical, 
mechanical  and  chemical). 

Among  the  laboratories  of  the  faculty  there  is  the  laboratory  of  marine 
zoology,  established  at  Luc-Sur-Mer,  ten  miles  from  Caen. 

The  collections  of  natural  history  are  especially  complete  (the  her- 
barium of  the  botanical  garden  being  the  most  important  in  France  after 
that  of  the  museum  of  Paris),  because  of  the  variety  and  the  richness  of 
the  terrestrial  and  marine  fauna  and  flora,  and  because  of  the  interest  of 
the  local  geology,  which  make  the  region  of  the  University  of  Caen  one 
of  the  most  interesting  of  France. 

Faculty  of  Letters 

In  addition  to  the  courses  which  are  to  be  found  in  all  of  the  faculties 
of  letters  in  France,  that  of  Caen  has  the  chair  of  the  history  of  Normandy. 

The  faculty  prepares  for  various  French  examinations  and  competitions 
(bachelor  of  letters,  various  certificates,  degrees  of  higher  studies,  agrege, 
doctor  of  the  university,  doctor  of  letters,  etc.).  Among  these  examinations, 
foreign  students  can  obtain,  rvithout  the  condition  of  a  previous  degree, 
the  degree  of  higher  studies,  or,  conditional  upon  preparation  in  certain 
previous  studies,  the  doctor  of  the  Universit'^  of  Caen  with  special  mention 
of  letters.  Trvo  other  examinations  less  difficult  in  character  have  been 
designed  especially)  for  them;  certificate  in  French  studies  and  a  diploma 
in  elementary  French. 

There  is  also  given  in  the  faculty,  besides  the  regular  courses,  instruc- 
tion designed  for  foreigners  alone.  These  special  courses,  ivhich  have 
been  suspended  during  the  rvar,  will  be  again  undertal^en  if  foreign  students, 
even  only  a  small  number,  express  a  wish  for  them.  The  program  is  as 
follows:  modern  French  literature,  French  composition,  French  literature 
of  the  sixteenth  century,  exercises  in  reading  and  editing  French  phonetics, 
written  and  oral  translation  from  English  and  German  into  French  and 
vice  versa. 

School  of  Medicine  and  Pharmacy 
In  the  School  of  Medicine  the  value  of  the  instruction  given,  because 
of  the  perfect  equipment  for  services,  has  permitted  certain  of  its  students  to 
take  eminent   rank   among   modern   practitioners.      The   collections   cf   the 
school  are  remarkable. 


23 


UNIVERSITY  OF  RENNES 

Faculty  of  Lav? 

Transferred  from  Nantes  to  Rennes  in  1  735,  strong  in  its  situation  near 
the  Parliament,  itself  one  of  the  most  important  of  provincial  rank,  it  quickly 
attained  a  high  degree  of  prosperity;  suppressed  in  the  Revolution,  it  was 
reborn  in  1806;  in  the  course  of  the  nineteenth  century,  it  renewed  its 
relations  with  its  old  teachers,  a  Lanjuinais,  a  Toullier,  a  Loysel,  a  fine 
tradition  which  is  preserved  even  to  our  time. 

In  1910  it  counted  980  enrolled  students.  At  this  date  public  authority 
transferred  it  to  the  ancient  archbishop's  palace,  whose  pride  is  its  wain- 
scots, its  furnishings  and  its  park.  From  August  1914  the  buildings  have 
been  yielded  to  our  glorious  wounded.  On  the  restoration  of  peace  it  will 
have  recovered  its  normal  character. 

Faculty)  of  Sciences 

The  Faculty  of  Sciences  actually  affords  instruction  in  the  following 
branches:  (1  )  theoretical  sciences:  mathematics,  physics,  chemistry,  zoology, 
botany,  geology,  mineralogy;  (2)  applied  sciences:  physics,  zoology, 
botany,  applied  geology,  industrial  chemistry,  agricultural  chemistry. 

The  courses  of  applied  sciences  are  sanctioned  by  the  degrees  of  chemist 
and  engineer-chemist  and  by  the  degree  of  chemical  and  natural  sciences  in 
agriculture.  These  courses  are  open  to  foreign  students  "without  the  require- 
ment of  a  preliminary  degree. 

The  faculty  possesses  well-equipped  laboratories  for  physics,  chemistry 
and  the  natural  sciences.  The  geological  collections  are  especially  rich  in 
specimens  of  the  Breton  soil.  The  faculty  possesses  also  a  laboratory  for 
agricultural  analysis  and  an  entomological  station.  All  the  laboratories 
are  open  to  the  foreign  students. 

Faculty  of  Letters 
Since  1910  it  has  been  lodged,  beside  the  University  Library  and  the 
Municipal  Library,  in  an  immense  building  in  the  midst  of  great  gardens 
on  the  Place  Hoche.  There  we  especially  observe  six  rooms  for  study 
supplied  with  special  libraries  for  the  use  of  the  students,  comprising  the 
following:  classical  languages,  French  literature,  history,  Celtic  languages, 
English  literature,  German  literature,  three  laboratories  attached  to  rooms 
for  study,  geography,  experimental  psychology  and  linguistics;  on  the 
second  floor  a  hall  for  student  meetings  and  recreation.  Among  the 
studies  of  the  faculty  which  are  not  found  universally,  mention  may 
be  made  of  the  general  bibliography  and  the  paleography  of  documents, 


124 

the  paleography  of  Larin  authors,  and  especially  the  language  and  litera- 
ture of  the  Celtic  peoples  (Ireland,  Scotland,  Wales,  Cornwall  and 
Armorica),  and  also  experimental  psychology.  The  collections  of  phono- 
grams comprise  numerous  Breton  songs  and  dialogues  in  different  Celtic 
dialects.  Since  1 886  the  Faculty  of  Letters  has  published  a  trimonthly 
review  dedicated  to  the  history  of  Brittany  and  the  Celtic  languages. 
The  professors,  instructors,  lecturers  and  readers  number   1  7. 

Besides  the  state  degrees  (baccalaureate,  licentiate,  degree  of  higher 
studies,  and  doctorate)  the  Faculty  of  Letters  of  Rennes  confers  five  diplo- 
mas belonging  to  the  University  of  Rennes,  ivhich  can  be  obtained  without 
condition  of  nationality,  age  or  preliminary  degrees.  They  are:  degree  of 
French  language,  degree  of  the  French  language  and  literature,  degree  of 
Celtic  studies,  higher  degree  of  Celtic  studies,  doctorate  of  the  University 
of  Rennes  with  special  mention  of  letters. 

During  the  month  of  August  the  Faculty  of  Letters  maintains  vacation 
courses  at  St  Malo.  These  courses  are  given  at  the  School  of  Rocabey, 
situated  at  equal  distance  from  St  Servan,  St  Male  and  Parame.  They 
comprise:  a  higher  course  (French  composition,  literary  analysis,  criticism 
of  texts,  study  of  the  French  vocabulary,  diction,  institutions  of  France, 
exercises  in  translation)  ;  and  an  elementary  course  (pronunciation,  orthog- 
raphy, phonetics,  reading,  conversation,  vocabulary,  diction,  history  and 
geography).  Literary  lectures,  common  to  the  two  courses,  have  for  their 
subject  matter  modern  literature,  the  contemporary  theater,  the  political 
and  economic  condition  of  France. 

Examinations  at  the  end  of  the  courses  open  to  students  the  opportunity 
to  gain  an  elementary  degree  or  a  superior  degree,  conferred  in  the  name 
of  the  University  of  Rennes  and  that  of  the  French  Alliance. 

These  courses,  instituted  a  short  time  before  the  war,  were  already  in 
full  operation.  The  war  interrupted  them;  on  the  restoration  of  peace 
they  will  receive  a  new  impulse. 

School  of  Medicine  and  Pharmacy 

The  School  of  Medicine  and  Pharmacy  of  Rennes,  entirely  new-built 
in  accordance  with  the  latest  requirements  of  science,  occupies  a  site  on  the 
banks  of  the  Vilaine. 

It  dates  from  the  eighteenth  century.  Throughout  the  century  following 
it  gradually  grew  till  1896,  the  year  in  which  it  became  a  school  of  full 
practice,  the  only  one  except  Nantes  and  Marseilles  where  medical  studies 
are  pursued  and  examinations  taken  to  the  end  of  the  entire  cycle  of  studies, 
the  doctorate  alone  being  reserved  to  a  faculty. 


125 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  its  laboratories,  notably  that  of  bacteriology,  bear 
comparison  with  the  best  equipp>ed.  The  delegates  from  the  foreign  uni- 
versities to  the  beautiful  celebrations  of  1911   could  testify  to  this. 

University)  Library  of  Rennes 

The  University  Library  of  Rennes  possessed  on  the  first  day  of  July, 
1917,  180,654  volumes,  68,266  pamphlets,  250  manuscripts,  12  incunab- 
ula. 

The  Celtic  section  is  one  of  the  most  importeint  in  existence.  It  com- 
prises 33  Breton  mysteries,  papers  of  M.  Henri  d'  Arbois  de  Jubainville 
and  some  Breton  dictionaries,  in  the  way  of  manuscripts;  facsimiles  of 
the  principal  manuscripts  of  the  Irish.  Welsh  or  Scotch  Gaelic  language, 
numerous  texts  of  these  literatures  auid  the  most  important  works  of  criti- 
cism published  in  relation  to  them,  in  the  way  of  printed  treasures. 

Besides  the  Celtic  section,  the  library  is  particularly  rich  in  works  con- 
cerning Jansenism,  experimental  psychology,  oceanography,  ichthyology, 
entomology  and  the  history  of  the  middle  ages. 

The  Municipal  Library,  very  well  furnished  with  Breton  works  or 
those  concerning  Brittany,  completes  in  this  respect  the  Celtic  collections 
of  the  University  Library. 

The  Future 

A  vigorous  effort  is  being  planned  to  associate  closely  the  University  of 
Brittany  and  Brittany  herself.  Everything  points  in  this  old  province,  rich 
with  its  glorious  traditions,  to  a  powerful  industrial  movement.  Leaders 
of  industry  and  commerce  as  well  as  public  authorities  are  engaged  in 
schemes  for  enlarging  the  applied  science  studies  already  instituted. 

The  University  of  Brittany  thus  proclaims  a  triple  character,  as  the 
center  of  Celtic  research;  the  center  of  French  culture  for  foreigners, 
gathered  together  according  to  tiie  season  at  Rennes  or  by  the  emerald  sea; 
the  center  of  preparation  for  commercial  and  industrial  studies. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  POITIERS 

The  University  of  Poitiers  dates  from  the  epoch  in  which  this  city, 
Paris  finding  itself  in  the  hands  of  the  English,  had  become  the  real  capital 
of  France. 

Founded,  by  virtue  of  a  bull  of  Pope  Eugenius  IV  (May  28,  1431) 
through  letters  of  King  Charles  VII,  of  the  16th  of  March  1432,  granted 
at  Chinon  and  registered  at  the  Parliament  sitting  at  Poitiers  April  8th,  it 
was  intended,  according  to  the  terms  of  the  bull,  to  comprehend,  like  the 


126 

University  of  Toulouse,  five  faculties.  In  fact,  it  counted  only  four,  the- 
ology and  canon  law,  civil  law,  medicine,  and  arts  (sciences  and  letters). 

It  soon  acquired  European  fame.  In  the  sixteenth  century  the  cele- 
brated geographer,  Sebastian  Munster  (about  1550),  pronounced  it  the 
second  university  of  France,  immediately  following  Paris.  More  than  four 
thousand  students  thronged  annually  to  its  chairs;  future  great  parlia- 
mentarians such  as  Brisson,  Achille  de  Harlay,  de  Thou,  Cheverny;  poets 
and  writers  like  Rabelais,  Ronsard,  du  Bellay.  While  the  Faculty  of  Law 
contributed  in  the  most  brilliant  fashion  to  the  extension  of  Roman  law, 
the  Faculty  of  Arts,  which  furnished  scientific  and  literary  instruction, 
became  the  home  of  an  ardent  humanism  v\ith  the  celebrated  Marc  Antoine 
Muretus  and  Peletier  du  Mans. 

With  the  seventeenth  century  the  decline  commenced,  not  unattended 
with  splendor  during  the  first  half,  when  the  famous  Barclay,  Balzac, 
Descartes,  La  Quintinie  followed  its  courses;  the  fall  became  more  and 
more  pronounced  during  the  second  part  and  in  the  eighteenth  century. 
In  1  789  most  of  the  colleges  disappeared  and  the  number  of  students  was 
reduced  by  nine-tenths.  The  University  of  Poitiers  was  only  the  shadow 
of  itself. 

It  resumed  its  life  at  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century.  One 
after  another  in  1804,  1806,  1845,  1854,  its  different  faculties  were 
restored.  In  1 896  it  was  finally  reorganized  on  foundations  entirely 
modern  and  acquired  an  official  teaching  character.  The  number  of  its 
chairs  increased ;  it  courses  were  developed ;  its  material  establishment  was 
improved;  its  collections  were  enriched;  its  library,  united  with  that  of 
the  city,  became,  with  nearly  500,000  volumes,  one  of  the  most  important 
of  provincial  rank.  In  1914,  at  the  moment  of  the  declaration  of  war,  it 
counted  more  than  1300  students;  and  its  Faculty  of  Law  again  holds 
today  the  third  rank  among  such  faculties  in  France. 

Besides  offering  the  ordinary  courses,  the  faculties  of  the  University  of 
Poitiers  possess  complementary  practical  institutions. 

In  law,  a  system  for  the  direction  of  work  is  organized  in  each  of  the 
study  years.  It  places  young  students  from  their  entrance  and  during  the 
entire  school  year  under  the  direct  control  of  a  teacher.  The  Practical 
Institute  of  Law  initiates  students  and  persons  regularly  matriculated  in 
actual  affairs  and  prepares  them  more  especially  for  examinations  which 
conduct  to  the  magistracy,  public  administration  and  great  financial,  indus- 
trial and  commercial  institutions.  A  School  of  Notaries  prepares  practical 
exercises  and  the  different  special  courses  indispensable  to  future  notaries. 

Under  the  Faculty  of  Sciences  young  persons  who  intend  to  enter  schools 


127 

of  electro-technology  and  those  who  will  be  called  later  to  direct  agri- 
cultural work  can  obtain  either  the  degree  of  agricultural  chemistry  or  a 
certificate  in  electricity. 

The  Faculty  of  Letters  delivers  a  certificate  of  fitness  for  the  teaching 
of  French  to  foreign  students,  available  to  the  French  as  well  as  to 
foreigners,  and  a  certificate  of  literary  studies  reserved  for  foreigners. 

Those  were  the  studies  before  the  war.  The  university  has  elaborated 
a  plan  for  an  Institute  of  Economic  Sciences,  of  which  the  three  depart- 
ments —  agricultural,  commercial  and  industrial  —  are  nearly  ready  to 
he  put  in  operation,  and  are  called  to  render  the  most  real  services  to  the 
youthful  working  population.  On  its  side,  the  Faculty  of  Letters  offers 
to  give,  mhen  it  next  reopens,  Tvith  regard  to  France,  her  geography,  her 
political  and  literary  history,  her  social  and  artistic  life,  an  assembly  of 
courses  and  lectures  Tvhich  will  open  to  everyone,  foreigners  in  a  notable 
degree,  an  adequate  and  just  acquaintance  with  our  civilization. 

Situated  on  the  great  Paris-Madrid  line,  at  the  junction  of  the  roads 
that  lead  on  the  west  toward  the  ocean,  on  the  east  toward  the  central 
plateau,  in  the  center  of  magnificent  regions,  Touraine,  with  its  Renaissance 
castles,  the  Vendee,  Aunis,  Saintonge,  with  their  groves,  their  salt  marshes, 
their  vineyards,  their  superb  beaches  from  Sables  d'Olonne  to  Royan,  Lim- 
ousin, with  its  meadows  and  its  chestnut  woods.  Berry,  so  delightfully 
described  by  George  Sand,  on  whatever  side  one  turns,  it  offers  to  our 
choice  within  a  radius  of  from  100  to  150  kilometers  the  most  varied 
excursions.  With  its  neighboring  forests  and  its  river,  where  such  good  boat- 
ing is  provided,  with  environs  furrowed  with  wonderful  roads  running 
across  the  most  varied  regions,  where  at  each  step  emerge  to  view  a  thou- 
sand relics  of  the  past,  Poitiers  itself  is  one  of  the  most  picturesque  cities 
in  existence  and  one  of  the  richest  in  old  monuments,  possessing  several 
which  are  universally  known.  Living  here  is  simple  and  easy.  The  student 
can  find  residence  under  the  best  conditions,  either  in  families  or  in  board- 
ing houses.  A  committee  of  patronage  welcomes  him  and  gives  him  all 
needed  advice.  In  the  Association  of  Students  he  enters  on  the  first  day 
into  relations  with  his  comrades.  Everywhere  he  is  certain  of  meeting  the 
freest  and  most  cordial  reception. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  BORDEAUX 

The  University  of  Bordeaux,  because  of  the  four  faculties  of  which  it 

is  composed  as  well  as  on  account  of  the  mildness  of  the  climate,  flatters 

itself  it  will  be  able  to  attract  some  of  the  students  who,   following  the 

heroic  example  of  the  sailors  of  the  "  Orleans  "  and  of  the  "  Rochester," 


128 

will  brave  the  dangers  of  the  Atlantic  in  order  to  come  to  pursue  their 
studies  in  France.  The  rich  variety  of  its  courses,  the  devotion  and  fame 
of  its  masters,  put  the  University  of  Bordeaux  in  a  position  to  offer  to  our 
guests  from  over  the  sea,  from  the  time  of  their  arrival,  the  intellectual 
resources  that  they  come  to  seek  in  our  country. 

In  the  Faculty  of  Lav^  they  will  find  courses  in  Roman,  French,  civil, 
commercial,  maritime,  administrative,  and  criminal  law,  courses  in  civil 
procedure,  in  international  law,  both  public  and  private,  political  economy, 
legislation  financial,  colonial  and  industrial.  They  will  be  able  in  this 
faculty  to  obtain  the  degree  of  doctor  of  law  of  the  University  of  Bordeaux. 
There  is  a  Practical  Institution  of  Law  where  is  to  be  found,  in  the  briefs 
put  in  the  hands  of  the  students,  the  application  of  the  principles  expounded 
in  the  courts,  which  will  permit  them  to  pass  from  theory  to  practice. 

The  combined  Faculty  of  Medicine  and  Pharmacy  will  put  at  their 
disposition  theoretical  and  practical  courses  in  anatomy,  physiology,  general 
anatomy  and  histology,  physical  biology,  medical  electricity,  biological 
chemistry,  operative  medicine,  experimental  medicine,  pathology  and  general 
therapeutics,  pathological  anatomy,  therapeutics  and  pharmacology, 
hygiene,  legal  medicine  and  exotic  pathology.  To  these  courses  of  the 
medical  kind  are  added  complementary  courses  and  conferences,  which 
would  be  too  many  to  enumerate  in  detail,  as  well  as  numerous  clinics  where 
there  is  shown  upon  patients  practical  application  of  the  rules  taught  in  the 
courses.  (Clinics  are  as  follows:  medical,  surgical,  ophthalmic,  infantile, 
orthopedic,  obstetrical,  gynecological,  stomatological,  mental  maladies,  skin 
and  syphilitic  diseases,  diseases  of  the  urinary  organs,  diseases  of  the  larynx, 
diseases  of  the  ears  and  of  the  nose,  diseases  of  warm  countries,  etc.)  Of 
the  pharmaceutical  kind  are  given  courses  in  chemistry,  general  and  special 
chemical  analysis,  toxicology,  biological  chemistry,  physical  pharmaceutics, 
natural  history,  pharmacy  and  materia  medica.  There  are  also  given  prac- 
tical exercises,  complementary  courses  and  conferences.  Our  guests  from 
over  the  sea  can  attain  a  degree  of  doctor  of  the  University  of  Bordeaux 
(mention  in  medicine  or  in  pharmacy)  or  degrees  of  pharmacist  or  of 
surgeon  dentist,  or  of  colonial  physician  of  the  University  of  Bordeaux. 

The  Faculty  of  Medicine  of  Bordeaux  has,  because  of  the  scientific 
attainments  and  the  fame  of  some  of  its  professors,  been  able  to  organize 
advanced  courses  in  branches  of  medical  science  which  these  professors 
teach  (medical  electricity,  oto-rhino-laryngology,  for  example).  These 
courses  attract  not  only  students,  but  also  teachers  from  other  universities. 

In  the  Faculty  of  Sciences  the  American  students  will  find  courses  in 
general  mathematics,  in  infinitesimal  calculus,  mechanics,  astronomy,  general 
physics,  experimental  physics,  physics   (P.  C.   N.),  applied  physics,   min- 


129 

eralogy,  organic  chemistry,  inorganic  chemistry,  physical  chemistry,  indus- 
trial chemistry,  physiological  chemistry,  agricultural  chemistry,  zoology, 
animal  physiology,  comparative  anatomy,  embryology,  botany,  vegetable 
physiology  and  geology.  There  are  laboratories  for  the  purposes  of  each 
one  of  these  courses.  The  students  will  be  able  to  obtain  degrees  from 
the  state  (certificate  P.  C.  N.,  bachelor,  degree  in  higher  studies,  doc- 
torate) ,  or  of  the  university :  doctorate  of  the  University  of  Bordeaux  with 
mention  in  sciences,  the  degree  of  chemical  engineer  for  the  preparation  of 
which  there  is  annexed  to  the  Faculty  of  Sciences  a  school  of  chemistry 
as  applied  to  industry  and  to  agriculture. 

The  industries  of  the  locality  and  the  needs  of  local  commerce  have  in 
addition  determined  the  creation  of  special  laboratories  which  give  to  the 
Faculty  of  Sciences  of  Bordeaux  its  particular  character:  for  example, 
the  laboratory  of  chemistry  as  applied  to  the  industry  of  resins,  the  labora- 
tory for  experiment  with  colonial  products.  An  agronomical  and  oeno- 
logical  station  is,  after  the  same  fashion,  attached  to  the  faculty. 

In  the  Faculty  of  Letters,  the  guests  from  beyond  the  sea  will  find 
courses  in  the  Greek  language  and  literature,  in  the  Latin  lemguage  and 
literature,  grammar,  comparative  grammar,  French  literature,  language  and 
literature  of  the  southwest  of  France,  German  language  and  literature, 
English  language  and  literature,  studies  in  Spanish,  Italian  language 
and  literature,  geography,  colonial  geography,  archeology,  history  of  art, 
ancient  history,  history  of  the  middle  ages,  modern  history,  history  of 
Bordeaux  and  of  the  southwest  of  France,  sciences  auxiliary  to  history, 
paleography,  philosophy,  history  of  philosophy,  social  science.  They  will 
be  able  to  obtain  the  degrees  of  the  state  (bachelor,  degree  in  higher 
studies,  doctorate),  or  of  the  university  (doctorate  of  the  University  of 
Bordeaux  with  mention  in  letters). 

The  certificate  in  French  studies  and  the  degree  of  university  studies 
are  especially  designed  for  foreigners  who  wish  to  obtain  evidence  of  their 
French  studies  and  certification  of  their  aptitude  to  teach  French  in  their 
own  country. 

The  well-stocked  library  and  museums  (Museum  of  Anatomy  and  of 
Anthropology,  Museum  of  Ethnography  and  of  Colonial  Studies  of  the 
Faculty  of  Medicine,  Museum  of  Archeology  in  the  Faculty  of  Letters) 
complete  the  resources  placed  by  the  University  of  Bordeaux  at  the  dis- 
position of  its  guests.  They  will  also  be  able  to  use  in  addition  the  other 
libraries  and  museums  of  the  city  of  Bordeaux. 

Lastly,  special  courses  in  French  and  French  literature,  organized  under 
the  patronage  of  the  university  by  a  committee  of  reception  for  foreign 
students,  will  permit  ihe  American  students  who  do  not  have,  on  their 
5 


130 

arrival  in  France,  sufficient  acquaintance  witii  the  French  language  to 
prepare  themselves  to  pursue  belter  the  courses  which  ive  have  enumerated. 
The  Franco- American  committee  is  prepared  to  give  information  to 
Americans  concerning  lodging  at  different  prices  and  to  furnish  for  them 
recreations  such  as  excursions  and  various  sports.  A  general  association 
of  men  students  and  general  association  of  Tvomen  students  are  prepared 
to  receive  their  comrades  from  over  the  sea  whose  hearts  the^  l^now  ahead}) 
beat  in  unison  with  theirs. 


(I  was  not  able  to  visit  the  Universities  of  Besancon,  Mar- 
seilles-Aix  and  Clermont-Ferrand.  This  alone  accounts  for  the 
omission  of  special  mention  of  them  here.  The  University  of 
Lille  was  behind  the  German  lines  and  one  does  not  know  what 
to  say  of  her,  save  to  express  the  hope  that  she  will  emerge  with 
a  face  as  fair  and  placid  as  her  cherished  Tete  de  Cire. 

There  are  many  of  whose  courtesy  and  assistance  I  should 
like  to  speak  in  detail,  but  I  must  at  least  mention  the  names  of 
a  few  who  have  been  most  helpful,  beside  our  American 
Ambassador  and  others  of  the  Embassy,  the  French  officials  and 
University  Recteurs.  These  are  Mr.  James  H.  Hyde,  Mr. 
August  F,  Jaccaci,  the  men  of  the  Maison  de  la  Presse,  and  the 
young  American,  Mr.  William  Gorham  Rice,  who  accompanied 
me  in.  the  early  part  of  my  visit  and  who  has  recently  won  the 
croix  de  guerre.  And  I  must  acknowledge,  with  special  grati- 
tude, my  indebtedness  to  Monsieur  Petit-Dutaillis,  the  Inspector 
General  of  Public  Instruction,  the  agreeable  companion  in  some 
of  my  journeys,  and  a  special  liason  officer  between  the 
universities  and  schools  of  France  and  those  of  America. 

The  last  word  must  be  in  thanks  to  those  who  gave  the  first 
assistance:  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  the  Honorable  Franklin 
K.  Lane,  and  the  French  Ambassador,  Monsieur  Jusserand, 
whose  letters  opened  all  official  doors  in  France  at  my  coming.) 


UNIVERSITY  of  CALIFORNIA 

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